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 Crooks, SD 57020

Crooks: median income $101,500, home value $320,400, $169/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bennet, NE 68317 96%207$108,056$294,100$166 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Canadensis, PA 18325 93%1,109$103,500$242,900$180 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger
Santa Claus, IN 47579 92%643$87,926$258,300$161 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Earlham, IA 50072 92%204$111,250$303,900$176 larger · older homes
Barneveld, WI 53507 92%350$113,261$347,400$224 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Amherst Junction, WI 54407 91%377$101,563$323,900$139 Very close on everything we compare
Brimfield, IL 61517 91%404$99,886$275,000$138 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · older homes
Penn Laird, VA 22846 90%1,007$115,491$450,000$209 pricier homes ($130K more)
Oldenburg, IN 47036 90%667$98,300$413,700— pricier homes ($93K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Underwood, IA 51576 90%171$110,476$305,400$180 Very close on everything we compare
Long Grove, IA 52756 90%345$116,250$358,000$189 pricier homes ($38K more)
Weston, MO 64098 90%308$92,661$317,600$186 larger · older homes
Paxinos, PA 17860 89%1,048$92,000$275,800$182 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Winfield, PA 17889 89%1,035$89,063$288,900$188 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Shenandoah Junction, WV 25442 89%1,024$111,419$393,600$200 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger
Clermont, GA 30527 89%943$103,281$356,000$185 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Waverly, AL 36879 89%970$93,029$325,900$202 larger
Battle Ground, IN 47920 89%556$90,441$276,300$151 cheaper homes ($44K less) · older homes
Mazeppa, MN 55956 89%218$98,558$341,600$188 Very close on everything we compare
Adams, NE 68301 89%222$114,408$299,500$154 6 min longer commute · older homes
Cambridge, VT 05444 88%1,185$106,088$366,400$248 pricier homes ($46K more)
Cuttingsville, VT 05738 88%1,194$95,000$331,900— older homes
Galway, NY 12074 88%1,143$94,583$304,800$234 larger
Hickman, TN 38567 88%778$100,368$340,500— smaller
Atkins, IA 52206 88%276$116,071$309,700$140 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.