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 Volga, SD 57071

Volga: median income $77,138, home value $246,000, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Morris, MN 56267 91%101$74,442$236,800$133 larger
Cimarron, KS 67835 90%484$79,877$215,900$117 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Delhi, NY 13753 88%1,112$70,000$216,200$160 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Winona Lake, IN 46590 87%602$82,188$274,500$152 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · more walkable
Fruitland, MD 21826 86%1,176$64,946$223,100$183 larger
Wilmore, KY 40390 86%777$73,767$245,900$186 larger · 5 min longer commute
Kalona, IA 52247 84%329$91,450$298,900$151 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Orange City, IA 51041 83%100$83,643$277,000$141 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Eagle Lake, MN 56024 83%152$95,357$285,600$162 pricier homes ($40K more) · newer homes
New Concord, OH 43762 82%831$80,709$241,500$168 larger · older residents
Coldwater, OH 45828 82%679$72,703$252,100$132 larger
Perham, MN 56573 82%170$68,770$286,500$183 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · older residents
Sabetha, KS 66534 82%311$73,050$198,900$87 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents
Saint Marys, KS 66536 82%357$85,568$224,600$151 younger residents
Seward, NE 68434 82%236$81,466$271,900$138 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · older residents
David City, NE 68632 82%212$70,242$176,400$143 cheaper homes ($70K less) · older residents
Wanchese, NC 27981 81%1,262$88,750$311,800$185 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller · older residents
Belden, MS 38826 81%815$75,862$253,700$172 larger · newer homes
Rothschild, WI 54474 81%361$81,635$193,600$147 cheaper homes ($52K less) · older residents
Tolono, IL 61880 81%535$85,536$227,900$147 older residents · more homeowners
Milford, NE 68405 81%246$75,250$244,600$153 older residents · older homes
Sugar City, ID 83448 81%733$76,000$381,900$234 pricier homes ($136K more) · newer homes
Henniker, NH 03242 80%1,251$95,206$356,700$258 pricier homes ($111K more) · larger
Bridgewater, VA 22812 80%1,014$85,941$366,900$206 pricier homes ($121K more) · larger
Fort Branch, IN 47648 80%641$65,000$213,000$168 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more homeowners

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.