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 Castlewood, SD 57223

Castlewood: median income $92,424, home value $236,600, $315/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Perkinsville, VT 05151 92%1,216$96,836$265,600$261 pricier homes ($29K more)
Russia, OH 45363 92%713$95,268$316,900— pricier homes ($80K more)
Westphalia, MO 65085 92%506$103,563$290,600$244 pricier homes ($54K more)
Roseland, VA 22967 91%1,049$87,337$255,200$262 larger
Arlington, WI 53911 91%392$100,625$296,100$222 pricier homes ($60K more)
Atwater, MN 56209 91%112$86,118$230,800$277 larger
Buskirk, NY 12028 90%1,177$96,891$247,700— 6 min longer commute
Blairstown, IA 52209 90%316$86,094$223,400$278 Very close on everything we compare
Eden, WI 53019 90%436$84,559$242,400$273 Very close on everything we compare
Congerville, IL 61729 90%488$101,172$259,100— Very close on everything we compare
Franklin, VT 05457 89%1,177$96,875$279,200$297 pricier homes ($43K more) · older residents
Chaseburg, WI 54621 89%303$94,286$280,000$202 pricier homes ($43K more)
Dakota, MN 55925 89%284$92,500$282,200— pricier homes ($46K more)
Pleasanton, NE 68866 89%280$94,792$262,300— pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Lawtons, NY 14091 88%916$82,833$236,200— Very close on everything we compare
Cambridge, IA 50046 88%263$81,500$229,200$243 older residents
Powers Lake, ND 58773 88%381$103,750$262,500— pricier homes ($26K more)
Edgerton, KS 66021 88%424$88,125$242,300$219 larger
Abbott, TX 76621 88%887$81,932$241,300$201 Very close on everything we compare
North Franklin, CT 06254 87%1,267$105,000$326,200$246 pricier homes ($90K more) · older residents
Pattersonville, NY 12137 87%1,146$83,879$271,500$231 pricier homes ($35K more)
South Wales, NY 14139 87%931$86,402$285,100$226 pricier homes ($49K more) · older residents
Atglen, PA 19310 87%1,121$82,371$315,700$231 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger
Burbank, OH 44214 87%803$84,861$237,800$316 larger · older residents
Cutler, IN 46920 87%612$100,074$280,500— pricier homes ($44K more)

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.