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 Sauk Centre, MN 56378

Sauk Centre: median income $72,567, home value $267,600, $148/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Newville, PA 17241 96%964$75,500$219,600$161 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Batesville, IN 47006 96%665$72,559$253,500$136 larger
Anamosa, IA 52205 96%310$72,500$221,500$132 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Mondovi, WI 54755 96%182$72,564$237,400$184 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Boonville, MO 65233 95%482$68,320$210,400$143 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Bonham, TX 75418 95%842$68,918$223,700$136 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Giddings, TX 78942 95%1,080$73,429$255,700$163 newer homes
Martinsburg, PA 16662 94%919$73,828$221,400$147 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Myerstown, PA 17067 94%1,009$76,183$237,200$162 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Mill Hall, PA 17751 94%932$75,072$215,100$143 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Franklin, VA 23851 94%1,123$70,122$244,300$163 larger
Bowdon, GA 30108 94%987$70,035$253,300$156 Very close on everything we compare
Jesup, GA 31546 94%1,208$66,912$207,900$135 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Paw Paw, MI 49079 94%511$73,333$234,400$165 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Brodhead, WI 53520 94%351$75,205$222,600$181 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Bloomer, WI 54724 94%174$72,391$244,700$177 Very close on everything we compare
Wilmington, IL 60481 94%458$79,042$232,600$194 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Holton, KS 66436 94%436$71,016$213,300$146 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Muncy, PA 17756 93%962$77,043$222,700$135 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Tunkhannock, PA 18657 93%992$75,317$218,100$142 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older residents
Rustburg, VA 24588 93%1,005$73,231$236,000$195 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Carthage, TN 37030 93%804$61,800$252,600$157 5 min longer commute
Bellville, OH 44813 93%719$77,846$225,200$175 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Jefferson, WI 53549 93%358$80,101$262,200$207 Very close on everything we compare
New London, WI 54961 93%317$71,824$221,400$192 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger

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.