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 Sioux Falls, SD 57108

Sioux Falls: median income $98,197, home value $413,600, $195/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waukee, IA 50263 90%195$102,762$352,800$241 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Tallahassee, FL 32311 89%1,134$81,243$321,600$207 cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller
Bismarck, ND 58503 89%306$102,333$393,700$196 more homeowners
Jacksonville, FL 32258 88%1,241$102,204$370,700$197 cheaper homes ($43K less) · 7 min longer commute
Lawrence, KS 66049 88%320$90,147$393,400$190 older homes
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 87%376$97,051$379,500$224 cheaper homes ($34K less) · more single-family homes
Madison, WI 53718 86%375$102,843$363,600$227 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · more walkable
Huntsville, AL 35806 85%807$86,768$347,700$174 cheaper homes ($66K less) · younger residents · more renters
Lexington, KY 40509 85%744$94,804$366,300$191 cheaper homes ($47K less) · more single-family homes
Jacksonville, FL 32224 84%1,237$88,259$458,100$265 pricier homes ($45K more) · older homes
North Liberty, IA 52317 84%285$105,318$322,800$175 cheaper homes ($91K less) · 6 min longer commute
Little Rock, AR 72223 83%641$101,062$451,800$200 pricier homes ($38K more) · more single-family homes
Carrollton, TX 75010 83%722$107,317$484,800$241 pricier homes ($71K more) · 8 min longer commute
Durham, NC 27713 82%1,077$100,676$418,400$226 larger · 5 min longer commute
Ankeny, IA 50021 82%200$99,572$317,200$229 cheaper homes ($96K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Appleton, WI 54913 82%416$105,385$393,400$212 more single-family homes
Baton Rouge, LA 70809 82%954$79,967$324,000$182 cheaper homes ($90K less) · older homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73142 82%547$81,818$364,300$178 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Arden, NC 28704 81%935$81,096$390,000$273 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64154 81%311$86,213$355,700$205 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · more walkable
Manhattan, KS 66503 81%292$97,846$339,100$153 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Austin, TX 78754 81%909$90,121$349,400$192 cheaper homes ($64K less) · 7 min longer commute
Greensboro, NC 27410 80%1,026$85,291$338,600$187 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · older homes
Saint Paul, MN 55122 80%195$96,823$356,600$200 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older homes
Overland Park, KS 66223 80%336$114,855$437,500$186 more walkable

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.