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 Armstrong, IA 50514

Armstrong: median income $73,000, home value $137,100, $63/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Clark, SD 57225 92%190$66,875$155,100$77 larger
Edgeley, ND 58433 91%291$70,375$116,400$89 Very close on everything we compare
Kenmare, ND 58746 91%517$70,263$149,700$87 Very close on everything we compare
Genesee, PA 16923 90%849$73,864$173,900— pricier homes ($37K more)
Tilden, NE 68781 90%193$67,212$171,700— pricier homes ($35K more) · younger residents
Hallock, MN 56728 89%389$79,444$152,100$96 Very close on everything we compare
Washington, KS 66968 88%281$59,438$124,900$49 Very close on everything we compare
Hay Springs, NE 69347 88%417$76,133$116,300— younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Beach, ND 58621 87%523$67,000$124,800$69 younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Eads, CO 81036 87%543$59,868$173,300— pricier homes ($36K more)
Bloomfield, NE 68718 86%170$60,250$139,200$65 younger residents
Smethport, PA 16749 85%821$72,250$120,100$84 larger
Cooperstown, ND 58425 85%332$59,773$122,500— younger residents
Lamoure, ND 58458 85%280$73,250$172,300— pricier homes ($35K more) · younger residents
Linton, ND 58552 85%341$65,515$122,000$98 Very close on everything we compare
Crosby, ND 58730 85%565$83,583$157,600$75 Very close on everything we compare
Terry, MT 59349 85%581$63,000$158,100— older residents
Meade, KS 67864 85%523$75,929$135,700— larger · younger residents
Condon, OR 97823 85%1,272$57,727$150,500$72 older residents
Woodhull, IL 61490 84%264$65,625$158,000$68 8 min longer commute
Saint Francis, KS 67756 84%462$54,868$129,600— larger
Cambridge, NE 69022 84%363$64,719$152,400— younger residents
Buhl, MN 55713 83%295$59,036$129,300$49 younger residents
Kimball, SD 57355 83%225$63,125$144,200— younger residents
Frankfort, KS 66427 83%274$79,481$133,600— younger residents

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.