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 Humboldt, SD 57035

Humboldt: median income $99,565, home value $326,500, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Westphalia, MI 48894 94%618$101,923$275,900$178 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Wilson, WI 54027 93%258$100,750$325,900$316 Very close on everything we compare
Elgin, MN 55932 93%243$100,078$316,500$120 Very close on everything we compare
Freeport, MN 56331 93%185$96,042$271,800$169 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Glyndon, MN 56547 93%227$102,500$304,300$162 larger
Westphalia, MO 65085 93%444$103,563$290,600$244 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Russia, OH 45363 92%690$95,268$316,900— Very close on everything we compare
Arlington, WI 53911 92%387$100,625$296,100$222 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Cutler, IN 46920 91%586$100,074$280,500— cheaper homes ($46K less)
Eagle, MI 48822 91%622$91,299$300,900$176 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Holdingford, MN 56340 91%194$96,250$294,900$188 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Sabin, MN 56580 91%219$107,813$282,200$165 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Buskirk, NY 12028 90%1,185$96,891$247,700— cheaper homes ($79K less)
Sciota, PA 18354 90%1,124$85,588$252,600$157 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Grabill, IN 46741 90%640$102,281$330,200$190 larger
Underwood, IA 51576 90%172$110,476$305,400$180 older residents
Racine, MN 55967 90%227$109,583$317,700$210 smaller · older residents
Barnesville, MN 56514 90%212$100,845$264,800$145 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Benton, KS 67017 90%402$88,750$259,400$150 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Richmond, UT 84333 90%755$108,750$398,900$188 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger
Perkinsville, VT 05151 89%1,227$96,836$265,600$261 cheaper homes ($61K less)
North Franklin, CT 06254 89%1,270$105,000$326,200$246 older residents
De Soto, IA 50069 89%212$98,056$232,100$202 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Goodhue, MN 55027 89%230$93,043$312,300$219 larger
Dover, MN 55929 89%247$118,977$332,300$166 newer homes

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.