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 Forest City, IA 50436

Forest City: median income $74,940, home value $167,900, $96/sq ft, 13-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sabetha, KS 66534 96%259$73,050$198,900$87 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
York, NE 68467 96%262$70,525$194,600$104 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Windom, MN 56101 93%86$77,083$183,700$117 Very close on everything we compare
Fairbury, IL 61739 93%315$76,555$164,400$112 Very close on everything we compare
Redwood Falls, MN 56283 92%115$66,352$176,800$118 older residents
Flandreau, SD 57028 92%159$72,798$193,800$122 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Lisbon, ND 58054 92%295$75,370$209,000$92 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Colby, KS 67701 92%469$70,250$177,300— Very close on everything we compare
Rothschild, WI 54474 90%228$81,635$193,600$147 pricier homes ($26K more)
Ashland, WI 54806 90%268$64,864$185,800$112 larger
Huron, SD 57350 90%240$66,573$173,000$101 larger
Martin, SD 57551 90%408$70,096$161,900— smaller
Mobridge, SD 57601 90%370$66,003$154,600$91 smaller
Glendive, MT 59330 90%601$70,964$185,900$105 6 min longer commute
Hugoton, KS 67951 90%585$63,527$131,500$103 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Thief River Falls, MN 56701 89%357$78,599$196,000$129 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Roseau, MN 56751 89%389$77,279$196,300$108 pricier homes ($28K more)
Milbank, SD 57252 89%200$70,479$183,000$92 older residents
Carrington, ND 58421 89%386$89,097$171,200$101 smaller
Miles City, MT 59301 89%635$71,332$217,900— pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · older residents
Palmyra, MO 63461 89%264$69,707$212,000$124 pricier homes ($44K more)
Broken Bow, NE 68822 89%332$67,500$154,600— Very close on everything we compare
Holdrege, NE 68949 89%353$63,273$197,200$114 pricier homes ($29K more)
Valentine, NE 69201 89%354$62,101$161,300$106 Very close on everything we compare
Lowville, NY 13367 88%912$67,873$171,000$119 Very close on everything we compare

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.