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 Marshall, MN 56258

Marshall: median income $72,731, home value $219,600, $119/sq ft, 11-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kearney, NE 68847 95%308$73,818$238,400$143 Very close on everything we compare
Mcpherson, KS 67460 93%431$80,720$220,500$113 Very close on everything we compare
Hays, KS 67601 92%426$61,417$227,300$133 larger
Grinnell, IA 50112 91%242$67,078$214,900$136 Very close on everything we compare
Pierre, SD 57501 91%224$81,791$245,100$152 pricier homes ($26K more)
York, NE 68467 91%264$70,525$194,600$104 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Hastings, NE 68901 91%298$66,585$190,100$109 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Texarkana, TX 75503 91%764$72,159$229,800$148 larger
Yankton, SD 57078 90%135$71,268$233,900$151 older residents
Kearney, NE 68845 90%307$76,978$282,000$147 pricier homes ($62K more)
Paducah, KY 42001 89%631$71,365$215,300$143 larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Waterloo, IA 50701 89%219$61,475$183,800$128 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Saint Joseph, MO 64506 89%326$65,573$240,300$150 5 min longer commute
Norfolk, NE 68701 89%186$62,633$214,500$137 larger
Enid, OK 73703 89%567$73,333$196,300$130 larger · 6 min longer commute
Wichita Falls, TX 76308 89%746$74,772$213,500$131 younger residents · more renters
Storm Lake, IA 50588 88%128$70,906$184,900$122 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Madison, SD 57042 88%73$71,868$228,200$155 smaller · older residents
Mitchell, SD 57301 88%123$65,620$208,200$155 Very close on everything we compare
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 88%590$66,654$219,800$135 larger · 6 min longer commute
Wichita, KS 67209 88%476$77,940$224,100$124 Very close on everything we compare
Shreveport, LA 71105 88%836$67,968$213,000$120 6 min longer commute
Beaumont, TX 77706 88%996$73,185$244,800$124 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Waverly, IA 50677 87%205$85,633$232,800$141 7 min longer commute
Orange City, IA 51041 87%100$83,643$277,000$141 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller · 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.