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 Jefferson, SD 57038

Jefferson: median income $106,250, home value $332,300, $185/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Thompson, ND 58278 96%358$111,250$313,400$209 Very close on everything we compare
Long Grove, IA 52756 94%314$116,250$358,000$189 pricier homes ($26K more)
Springfield, MA 01128 91%1,226$100,313$272,100$236 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Cuttingsville, VT 05738 91%1,195$95,000$331,900— 6 min longer commute
Winfield, PA 17889 91%1,020$89,063$288,900$188 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Kasota, MN 56050 91%176$90,000$342,700$211 Very close on everything we compare
Lohman, MO 65053 91%356$120,870$341,400$144 Very close on everything we compare
Edgecomb, ME 04556 90%1,353$108,750$348,400$296 Very close on everything we compare
Janesville, IA 50647 90%208$104,063$314,200$144 Very close on everything we compare
Brimfield, IL 61517 90%365$99,886$275,000$138 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Manchester, ME 04351 89%1,339$92,031$299,600$210 cheaper homes ($33K less)
East Montpelier, VT 05651 89%1,210$103,393$393,500$201 pricier homes ($61K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Oldenburg, IN 47036 89%631$98,300$413,700— pricier homes ($81K more) · smaller · newer homes
Dike, IA 50624 89%202$96,713$260,100$156 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Amherst Junction, WI 54407 89%387$101,563$323,900$139 less walkable
Sabin, MN 56580 89%288$107,813$282,200$165 cheaper homes ($50K less) · younger residents
Bennet, NE 68317 89%133$108,056$294,100$166 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 5 min longer commute
Saratoga, WY 82331 89%527$95,610$363,800$206 pricier homes ($32K more)
Madison, NH 03849 88%1,279$96,439$390,100$289 pricier homes ($58K more)
Penn Laird, VA 22846 88%978$115,491$450,000$209 pricier homes ($118K more) · newer homes
Earlham, IA 50072 88%148$111,250$303,900$176 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Wales, WI 53183 88%416$108,827$398,700$207 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger
Combined Locks, WI 54113 88%430$93,490$246,000$199 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger
Tecumseh, KS 66542 88%253$108,218$234,700$151 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger
West Sand Lake, NY 12196 87%1,164$110,889$317,300$241 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.