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.

Reset

Towns most like Sioux Falls, SD 57106

Sioux Falls: median income $77,580, home value $290,200, $188/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lincoln, NE 68521 95%184$67,483$252,800$162 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32246 94%1,240$80,963$312,900$222 Very close on everything we compare
Charlotte, NC 28273 91%1,024$87,350$340,600$197 pricier homes ($50K more)
Bloomington, IN 47403 91%610$70,582$239,700$185 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Dover, DE 19901 89%1,142$66,388$273,000$183 older homes
Hampton, VA 23666 89%1,160$72,568$253,000$194 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older homes
Savannah, GA 31419 89%1,161$69,635$257,300$178 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 7 min longer commute
Panama City, FL 32405 89%1,105$73,373$279,900$196 smaller
Lexington, KY 40511 89%743$79,540$252,400$180 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more single-family homes
Moorhead, MN 56560 89%231$75,406$253,200$155 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older homes
Dickinson, ND 58601 89%369$85,821$278,800$164 smaller
La Vista, NE 68128 89%166$86,410$291,300$171 smaller
Fort Wayne, IN 46825 88%618$70,544$220,600$157 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller
Grand Rapids, MI 49508 88%564$70,120$281,600$187 older homes
Minot, ND 58701 88%391$73,269$277,800$144 smaller · older homes
Harrisonburg, VA 22802 87%997$66,423$280,700$196 smaller · older homes
Pensacola, FL 32514 87%1,040$66,644$259,600$167 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 5 min longer commute · older homes
West Fargo, ND 58078 87%233$91,040$324,100$173 pricier homes ($34K more) · more walkable
Williston, ND 58801 87%463$84,702$298,300$201 smaller
Tulsa, OK 74133 87%518$74,005$278,300$137 Very close on everything we compare
Tyler, TX 75703 87%781$79,194$336,300$179 pricier homes ($46K more)
San Antonio, TX 78251 87%977$78,958$268,300$138 7 min longer commute
Newark, DE 19702 86%1,119$92,446$346,100$209 pricier homes ($56K more) · 7 min longer commute
Chesapeake, VA 23320 86%1,179$84,305$346,400$219 pricier homes ($56K more) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Newport News, VA 23602 86%1,152$79,475$288,200$193 7 min longer commute · older 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.