OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Luverne, MN 56156

Luverne: median income $71,066, home value $232,300, $133/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Hampton, IA 50659 96%201$78,153$206,900$122 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Palmyra, MO 63461 96%360$69,707$212,000$124 Very close on everything we compare
Archbold, OH 43502 95%623$74,925$203,300$177 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Williamsport, PA 17702 94%990$70,210$196,900$146 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Humboldt, IA 50548 94%120$76,214$188,200$113 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Sheldon, IA 51201 94%38$68,799$197,800$118 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Manchester, IA 52057 94%254$69,635$184,300$142 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Nebraska City, NE 68410 94%207$71,640$182,900$135 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Olyphant, PA 18447 93%1,057$66,677$207,900$150 older residents
Grinnell, IA 50112 93%221$67,078$214,900$136 larger
Mayville, WI 53050 93%384$71,985$210,600$170 Very close on everything we compare
Glendive, MT 59330 93%476$70,964$185,900$105 cheaper homes ($46K less)
North East, PA 16428 92%834$78,675$193,300$168 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Watsontown, PA 17777 92%1,002$67,188$216,800$134 Very close on everything we compare
Osage, IA 50461 92%173$68,886$180,400$134 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Rock Rapids, IA 51246 92%16$72,400$247,900$116 smaller
Monroe, WI 53566 92%340$74,058$220,400$156 larger
Ashland, WI 54806 92%334$64,864$185,800$112 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Crete, NE 68333 92%214$81,083$234,000$141 Very close on everything we compare
Kingfisher, OK 73750 92%546$69,931$229,100$126 newer homes
Burlington, CO 80807 92%433$76,583$251,900$123 smaller
Thermopolis, WY 82443 92%607$62,767$230,000$141 Very close on everything we compare
Lowville, NY 13367 91%1,036$67,873$171,000$119 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Bluffton, OH 45817 91%658$76,848$210,100$173 Very close on everything we compare
Spencer, IA 51301 91%65$63,402$188,300$122 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.