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 Rapids, MN 56379

Sauk Rapids: median income $76,138, home value $272,400, $161/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mandan, ND 58554 96%334$80,120$277,900$165 larger
Brenham, TX 77833 96%1,073$73,388$280,500$172 larger
Victoria, TX 77904 96%1,167$83,130$244,700$164 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Portland, TX 78374 96%1,236$83,504$233,800$164 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Lees Summit, MO 64063 95%462$80,459$263,000$174 Very close on everything we compare
West Monroe, LA 71291 95%909$71,639$227,000$144 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Siloam Springs, AR 72761 95%651$76,122$236,600$177 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Tulsa, OK 74134 95%661$73,119$230,700$151 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Hewitt, TX 76643 95%991$83,511$273,300$176 Very close on everything we compare
Perry, GA 31069 94%1,065$74,501$227,300$156 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Northport, AL 35473 94%921$69,657$272,800$168 Very close on everything we compare
Angola, IN 46703 94%532$74,569$231,300$173 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Comstock Park, MI 49321 94%454$77,870$274,400$203 Very close on everything we compare
Baraboo, WI 53913 94%262$74,629$234,900$177 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Bourbonnais, IL 60914 94%440$86,223$255,300$175 larger
Jefferson City, MO 65101 94%498$74,807$243,600$142 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Casper, WY 82609 94%629$71,010$293,900$169 Very close on everything we compare
Evanston, WY 82930 94%893$81,042$292,800$164 Very close on everything we compare
Salisbury, MD 21801 93%1,071$71,313$327,700$177 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger
Florence, SC 29501 93%1,094$71,671$236,900$156 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Ocala, FL 34480 93%1,315$77,557$282,700$184 Very close on everything we compare
Tupelo, MS 38804 93%834$64,420$219,700$155 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Grand Rapids, MI 49534 93%452$81,657$306,700$207 pricier homes ($34K more)
Reedsburg, WI 53959 93%250$77,924$255,300$176 older residents
Schofield, WI 54476 93%228$78,079$224,300$165 cheaper homes ($48K less)

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.