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 Storm Lake, IA 50588

Storm Lake: median income $70,906, home value $184,900, $122/sq ft, 11-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
York, NE 68467 93%174$70,525$194,600$104 older residents
Huron, SD 57350 92%192$66,573$173,000$101 older residents
Marshall, MO 65340 91%262$58,118$156,100$129 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Guymon, OK 73942 91%529$61,522$184,500$142 Very close on everything we compare
Thief River Falls, MN 56701 90%381$78,599$196,000$129 older residents
Lima, OH 45805 89%585$68,842$160,600$141 larger · 5 min longer commute
Hastings, NE 68901 89%218$66,585$190,100$109 larger · older residents
Dalhart, TX 79022 89%599$72,286$172,000$176 Very close on everything we compare
Lamar, CO 81052 89%502$58,875$158,800$121 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Sault Sainte Marie, MI 49783 88%596$60,658$158,800$156 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older residents
Willmar, MN 56201 88%172$68,804$216,300$132 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Marshall, MN 56258 88%128$72,731$219,600$119 pricier homes ($35K more)
Columbus, NE 68601 88%140$68,480$221,900$125 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · older residents
Lexington, NE 68850 88%268$69,238$161,400$116 6 min longer commute
Worthington, MN 56187 87%71$64,326$219,000$158 pricier homes ($34K more) · 8 min longer commute
Havre, MT 59501 87%809$51,872$218,100$110 pricier homes ($33K more)
Dodge City, KS 67801 87%423$71,821$148,400$183 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Norfolk, NE 68701 87%121$62,633$214,500$137 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · older residents
Altus, OK 73521 87%596$60,887$160,600$125 larger · more renters
Wichita Falls, TX 76302 87%633$59,590$165,800$133 Very close on everything we compare
Rawlins, WY 82301 87%618$62,841$217,300$126 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · older residents
American Falls, ID 83211 87%900$65,483$209,200$168 smaller
Upper Sandusky, OH 43351 86%626$67,606$170,400$148 older residents · 7 min longer commute
Ashland, WI 54806 86%348$64,864$185,800$112 older residents
Mitchell, SD 57301 86%161$65,620$208,200$155 older 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.