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 Lake Norden, SD 57248

Lake Norden: median income $96,364, home value $293,200, $702/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Aaronsburg, PA 16820 88%1,031$83,900$263,600— cheaper homes ($30K less)
Russia, OH 45363 84%717$95,268$316,900— older residents
Corinne, UT 84307 83%782$80,441$402,400— pricier homes ($109K more)
Buskirk, NY 12028 82%1,186$96,891$247,700— cheaper homes ($46K less) · older residents
Congerville, IL 61729 82%490$101,172$259,100— cheaper homes ($34K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Hillpoint, WI 53937 79%359$87,292$318,200$434 pricier homes ($25K more)
Sheridan, CA 95681 79%1,298$95,978$494,400$412 pricier homes ($201K more)
Fort Loramie, OH 45845 76%716$95,078$306,300— larger · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Dakota, MN 55925 74%291$92,500$282,200— older residents · more homeowners · older homes
Worden, MT 59088 74%541$90,625$234,300— cheaper homes ($59K less) · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Hildale, UT 84784 74%975$78,523$379,200— pricier homes ($86K more) · 11 min shorter commute
Eden, GA 31307 73%1,207$105,679$318,300— pricier homes ($25K more) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Powers Lake, ND 58773 73%383$103,750$262,500— cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents · older homes
Morrisville, MO 65710 73%529$77,865$231,000— cheaper homes ($62K less) · older residents
Lawtons, NY 14091 72%924$82,833$236,200— cheaper homes ($57K less) · older residents
Tuscarawas, OH 44682 72%853$86,250$155,800— cheaper homes ($137K less) · older residents
Minford, OH 45653 72%837$82,125$176,100— cheaper homes ($117K less) · larger · older residents
Saint Anthony, IN 47575 72%689$125,625$318,900— higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents
Loami, IL 62661 72%506$80,833$180,300— cheaper homes ($113K less) · older residents
Coahoma, TX 79511 72%878$117,578$264,400— cheaper homes ($29K less) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Greenleaf, ID 83626 71%973$69,531$353,900$410 lower income ($27K less) · pricier homes ($61K more) · older residents
Harrah, WA 98933 71%1,135$75,972$241,400— cheaper homes ($52K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Cutler, IN 46920 70%616$100,074$280,500— older residents · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Pleasanton, NE 68866 70%267$94,792$262,300— cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Marshfield, VT 05658 69%1,221$72,292$243,800$516 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older residents

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.