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 Watertown, SD 57201

Watertown: median income $72,878, home value $242,700, $144/sq ft, 13-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jasper, IN 47546 96%693$73,659$252,800$136 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, NE 68601 96%240$68,480$221,900$125 Very close on everything we compare
Willmar, MN 56201 95%102$68,804$216,300$132 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Norfolk, NE 68701 95%199$62,633$214,500$137 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Grand Island, NE 68803 95%282$73,463$244,200$121 Very close on everything we compare
Le Mars, IA 51031 94%153$76,525$222,800$145 smaller
Marshfield, WI 54449 94%341$67,551$211,600$146 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Rice Lake, WI 54868 94%265$64,318$227,800$158 smaller
Wausau, WI 54401 93%363$71,586$196,700$165 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Kearney, NE 68847 93%306$73,818$238,400$143 Very close on everything we compare
Warsaw, IN 46580 92%622$71,687$192,600$148 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Fergus Falls, MN 56537 92%107$65,473$246,500$137 Very close on everything we compare
Thief River Falls, MN 56701 92%227$78,599$196,000$129 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Fremont, NE 68025 92%241$72,254$222,000$165 Very close on everything we compare
Sulphur Springs, TX 75482 92%817$69,970$231,000$148 6 min longer commute
Riverton, WY 82501 92%565$60,449$237,800$164 Very close on everything we compare
Owensboro, KY 42303 91%717$64,773$198,200$157 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Sparta, WI 54656 91%318$72,379$214,400$155 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 7 min longer commute
Effingham, IL 62401 91%593$82,374$217,500$140 cheaper homes ($25K less)
North Platte, NE 69101 91%319$62,268$188,700$149 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Fort Smith, AR 72908 91%677$72,732$197,000$132 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Enid, OK 73703 91%589$73,333$196,300$130 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Casper, WY 82601 91%479$67,642$249,100$174 Very close on everything we compare
Omak, WA 98841 91%1,086$71,809$274,000$163 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Mifflinburg, PA 17844 90%1,049$68,314$235,000$149 smaller · 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.