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 Minneota, MN 56264

Minneota: median income $81,071, home value $189,600, $81/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gibbon, NE 68840 95%301$76,394$208,100$91 Very close on everything we compare
Parkston, SD 57366 93%127$78,155$184,600$104 older residents
Groton, SD 57445 93%121$84,948$193,800— Very close on everything we compare
Richardton, ND 58652 93%343$79,524$205,000$78 smaller
Ellis, KS 67637 93%429$74,281$158,700$92 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Minatare, NE 69356 93%422$73,787$189,500$75 Very close on everything we compare
Holland, IN 47541 92%636$78,409$156,800— cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Hawarden, IA 51023 92%110$80,357$173,300$99 larger
Velva, ND 58790 92%339$83,233$224,600$108 pricier homes ($35K more)
Mount Ayr, IA 50854 91%280$81,250$161,800$78 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 5 min longer commute
Halstead, KS 67056 91%460$78,958$169,200$111 Very close on everything we compare
Buhler, KS 67522 91%454$72,622$146,300$109 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Hoxie, KS 67740 91%429$75,417$186,600— Very close on everything we compare
Sunray, TX 79086 91%666$70,648$137,700$93 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Stryker, OH 43557 90%621$84,950$158,900$104 cheaper homes ($31K less)
West Bend, IA 50597 90%134$92,000$179,700— smaller
Freeman, SD 57029 90%111$73,750$179,700$107 Very close on everything we compare
Erie, IL 61250 90%358$84,688$167,700$95 older residents
El Paso, IL 61738 90%441$84,926$175,700$98 larger
Memphis, MO 63555 90%343$67,426$170,600$60 Very close on everything we compare
Marceline, MO 64658 90%369$75,848$144,700$98 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Sutherland, NE 69165 90%351$75,795$211,800$105 older residents
Thomas, OK 73669 90%627$69,821$151,100$67 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Hennessey, OK 73742 90%594$70,538$171,800$92 larger
Castorland, NY 13620 89%1,014$70,087$181,800$79 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.