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 Cass Lake, MN 56633

Cass Lake: median income $67,981, home value $166,400, $105/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hennessey, OK 73742 95%796$70,538$171,800$92 Very close on everything we compare
Lake City, AR 72437 93%825$60,714$160,300$133 smaller
Bells, TN 38006 92%853$70,047$172,700$144 Very close on everything we compare
Dardanelle, AR 72834 92%843$63,131$162,300$133 larger · older residents
Steens, MS 39766 91%1,007$65,707$162,700— smaller
Fennimore, WI 53809 91%358$65,568$192,500$127 pricier homes ($26K more) · older homes
Scott City, MO 63780 91%747$72,171$169,600$102 Very close on everything we compare
Roland, OK 74954 91%822$58,397$157,500$124 Very close on everything we compare
Castorland, NY 13620 90%953$70,087$181,800$79 smaller
Hartford, AL 36344 90%1,219$60,377$173,500$140 Very close on everything we compare
Newbern, TN 38059 90%825$62,281$150,300$147 larger
Potterville, MI 48876 90%581$74,594$186,900$137 more apartments and townhomes
Cascade, IA 52033 90%392$69,023$214,100$127 pricier homes ($48K more)
Marionville, MO 65705 90%717$61,000$166,800$116 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Purdy, MO 65734 90%729$56,744$197,200$131 pricier homes ($31K more)
Cameron, TX 76520 90%1,147$64,800$162,100$117 larger · older residents
Farwell, TX 79325 90%996$71,771$163,400— smaller
Piffard, NY 14533 89%871$68,170$184,900$138 smaller
Eastaboga, AL 36260 89%1,052$73,007$160,900$157 Very close on everything we compare
Berne, IN 46711 89%666$70,656$173,200$116 larger · younger residents · older homes
West Liberty, IA 52776 89%432$79,665$204,000$126 pricier homes ($38K more)
Boscobel, WI 53805 89%347$60,870$164,100$131 older residents
Abbotsford, WI 54405 89%264$69,659$177,900$112 smaller · older residents
Colby, WI 54421 89%266$60,820$194,500$114 pricier homes ($28K more)
Dorchester, WI 54425 89%260$63,424$175,000$101 smaller

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.