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 Estelline, SD 57234

Estelline: median income $82,358, home value $173,000, $373/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Steuben, ME 04680 88%1,418$76,466$173,900$413 newer homes
Blairstown, IA 52209 88%305$86,094$223,400$278 pricier homes ($50K more)
Sweetser, IN 46987 87%630$80,893$152,500— 6 min shorter commute
Cambridge, IA 50046 87%252$81,500$229,200$243 pricier homes ($56K more)
Cory, IN 47846 86%616$77,228$121,800— cheaper homes ($51K less)
Manson, IA 50563 86%186$71,094$161,100$335 larger
Malvern, IA 51551 86%257$85,469$212,400$250 pricier homes ($39K more)
Holland, IN 47541 85%673$78,409$156,800— Very close on everything we compare
Pilot Grove, MO 65276 85%445$78,958$186,300— newer homes
White Deer, TX 79097 85%673$88,182$144,600— cheaper homes ($28K less) · more renters
Lawtons, NY 14091 84%909$82,833$236,200— pricier homes ($63K more) · newer homes
Volant, PA 16156 84%876$69,054$221,400— pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Liberty, PA 16930 84%1,017$71,111$197,800— older residents
Burbank, OH 44214 84%795$84,861$237,800$316 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger · newer homes
Atwater, MN 56209 84%109$86,118$230,800$277 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Loami, IL 62661 84%496$80,833$180,300— more apartments and townhomes
Palmyra, NE 68418 84%270$86,065$203,400$225 pricier homes ($30K more)
Arnold, NE 69120 84%273$69,886$158,200— more renters
Paoli, OK 73074 84%676$78,088$139,600— cheaper homes ($33K less)
Jefferson, PA 15344 83%918$73,886$154,300$317 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Coal Center, PA 15423 83%921$77,857$185,900$215 older residents
Collins, IA 50055 83%260$85,278$200,000$199 pricier homes ($27K more)
Schleswig, IA 51461 83%183$73,768$183,100— older homes
Buffalo Lake, MN 55314 83%114$79,500$179,200$243 older residents
Chilhowee, MO 64733 83%442$77,083$218,100$259 pricier homes ($45K more) · 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.