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 Brandon, SD 57005

Brandon: median income $112,500, home value $341,200, $189/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Henrietta, NY 14586 95%949$124,457$277,500$211 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Norwalk, IA 50211 95%208$103,712$316,100$231 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Monroe, OH 45050 93%693$104,282$293,100$181 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Mahomet, IL 61853 93%482$115,512$282,200$191 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Broussard, LA 70518 93%965$106,710$297,900$154 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Mc Gregor, TX 76657 93%841$97,634$373,300$188 pricier homes ($32K more)
Amarillo, TX 79124 93%642$112,541$362,300$187 older residents
Mattawan, MI 49071 92%554$108,629$284,800$177 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Greenville, WI 54942 92%403$119,508$355,900$217 Very close on everything we compare
Eudora, KS 66025 92%331$114,868$311,100$184 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Andover, KS 67002 92%408$104,351$290,700$150 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Lorena, TX 76655 92%843$99,917$313,100$186 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Chester, VA 23836 91%1,097$100,921$356,400$192 6 min longer commute
Adel, IA 50003 91%188$103,114$395,400$256 pricier homes ($54K more)
Byron, MN 55920 91%200$131,336$372,600$193 pricier homes ($31K more)
Goddard, KS 67052 91%413$103,148$288,500$159 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Bonaire, GA 31005 90%1,037$110,461$275,800$153 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
New Prague, MN 56071 90%163$115,690$397,800$187 pricier homes ($57K more) · 6 min longer commute
Ashland, MO 65010 90%401$95,559$313,900$200 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Jenks, OK 74037 90%525$103,942$301,900$172 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Bryan, TX 77808 90%883$113,343$375,000$209 pricier homes ($34K more) · 5 min longer commute
Kathleen, GA 31047 89%1,041$117,332$293,100$169 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Madison, AL 35757 89%804$106,175$337,000$174 larger
Caledonia, MI 49316 89%559$103,238$364,200$218 larger
Dubuque, IA 52002 89%304$91,036$298,900$173 cheaper homes ($42K 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.