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 Madison, SD 57042

Madison: median income $71,868, home value $228,200, $155/sq ft, 13-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Grinnell, IA 50112 93%271$67,078$214,900$136 larger
Decorah, IA 52101 93%270$73,484$273,200$172 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Miles City, MT 59301 93%455$71,332$217,900— larger
Fergus Falls, MN 56537 92%165$65,473$246,500$137 larger
Thermopolis, WY 82443 92%561$62,767$230,000$141 smaller
Moosic, PA 18507 91%1,101$75,395$266,700$165 pricier homes ($39K more)
Carroll, IA 51401 91%175$70,702$195,700$141 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085 91%463$73,703$241,900$193 larger
Holdrege, NE 68949 91%271$63,273$197,200$114 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Spencer, IA 51301 90%115$63,402$188,300$122 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Rothschild, WI 54474 90%375$81,635$193,600$147 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · younger residents
Rice Lake, WI 54868 90%283$64,318$227,800$158 larger
Saint Peter, MN 56082 90%157$71,456$275,200$169 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · younger residents
Fort Smith, AR 72908 90%617$72,732$197,000$132 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Monte Vista, CO 81144 90%648$64,662$234,200$191 Very close on everything we compare
Freeville, NY 13068 89%1,047$80,043$204,200$189 smaller
Danville, PA 17821 89%1,062$76,971$249,500$164 larger · 7 min longer commute
Archbold, OH 43502 89%671$74,925$203,300$177 Very close on everything we compare
Kimberly, WI 54136 89%435$69,495$220,700$183 Very close on everything we compare
Mankato, MN 56003 89%151$82,538$270,400$162 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Luverne, MN 56156 89%50$71,066$232,300$133 Very close on everything we compare
Redwood Falls, MN 56283 89%106$66,352$176,800$118 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Gering, NE 69341 89%364$73,638$185,700$194 cheaper homes ($43K less) · younger residents
Painted Post, NY 14870 88%1,014$84,476$177,500$128 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Portage, MI 49002 88%596$73,647$246,400$174 larger · 6 min longer commute

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.