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 Buhl, MN 55713

Buhl: median income $59,036, home value $129,300, $49/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kimball, SD 57355 96%396$63,125$144,200— Very close on everything we compare
Humboldt, KS 66748 92%683$59,871$114,300$55 larger
Plainview, NE 68769 91%432$61,833$122,500$52 larger
Tilden, NE 68781 91%450$67,212$171,700— pricier homes ($42K more)
Kinde, MI 48445 90%531$51,645$121,600— Very close on everything we compare
Atkinson, IL 61235 90%441$61,932$132,800$67 6 min longer commute
Eddyville, IA 52553 89%438$64,583$150,000— larger · 6 min longer commute
Cooperstown, ND 58425 89%252$59,773$122,500— Very close on everything we compare
Mott, ND 58646 89%458$56,667$92,800$58 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Smith Center, KS 66967 89%610$56,726$100,400— cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Washington, KS 66968 89%571$59,438$124,900$49 older residents
Sharon Springs, KS 67758 89%746$58,500$109,700$78 Very close on everything we compare
Bertrand, NE 68927 89%586$69,167$183,700— pricier homes ($54K more)
Cambridge, NE 69022 89%619$64,719$152,400— larger
Laverne, OK 73848 89%829$57,619$124,200— 5 min longer commute
Shattuck, OK 73858 89%855$56,313$127,600$53 younger residents · newer homes
Buffalo Center, IA 50424 88%290$59,091$114,500$48 older residents
Lenox, IA 50851 88%465$70,926$121,000— larger · younger residents
Beach, ND 58621 88%528$67,000$124,800$69 6 min longer commute
Fairfax, MO 64446 88%512$56,949$101,800— cheaper homes ($28K less) · 7 min longer commute
Rushville, NE 69360 88%575$52,402$116,000— Very close on everything we compare
Bloomdale, OH 44817 87%629$64,565$159,900$52 pricier homes ($31K more) · 8 min longer commute
Bedford, IA 50833 87%482$61,042$112,900$69 larger
Napoleon, ND 58561 87%337$61,688$100,300— cheaper homes ($29K less)
Warsaw, IL 62379 87%498$62,200$103,200$56 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute

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.