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 Preston, SD 57249

Lake Preston: median income $63,182, home value $193,300, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Machiasport, ME 04655 95%1,468$60,000$177,100$265 Very close on everything we compare
Fredericksburg, IA 50630 94%277$71,518$198,900$73 Very close on everything we compare
Sanborn, IA 51248 94%118$64,375$172,800$108 Very close on everything we compare
Erskine, MN 56535 94%237$65,536$233,600$336 pricier homes ($40K more)
Energy, IL 62933 94%630$67,794$156,100$51 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Almena, WI 54805 93%273$59,643$189,100$128 younger residents
Keytesville, MO 65261 93%408$64,904$152,500$119 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Staffordsville, KY 41256 92%878$60,583$203,800$142 larger
Montezuma, IA 50171 92%311$65,000$216,000$269 larger
Wall Lake, IA 51466 92%186$71,579$179,600$245 Very close on everything we compare
Gresham, WI 54128 92%424$63,661$152,700$199 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Littlefork, MN 56653 92%332$74,583$168,900$119 Very close on everything we compare
Tilden, NE 68781 92%162$67,212$171,700— Very close on everything we compare
West Baden Springs, IN 47469 91%684$63,529$204,700$88 larger
Cassville, WI 53806 91%341$64,076$164,600$199 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Vesper, WI 54489 91%365$63,352$175,000$165 Very close on everything we compare
Laona, WI 54541 91%433$63,438$193,800$104 larger
Wabasso, MN 56293 91%105$67,396$170,500$103 younger residents
Lamoure, ND 58458 91%147$73,250$172,300— Very close on everything we compare
Valier, MT 59486 91%760$56,875$182,900$216 Very close on everything we compare
Milbridge, ME 04658 90%1,447$60,536$240,400$262 pricier homes ($47K more)
North Benton, OH 44449 90%862$62,188$163,600$135 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 5 min longer commute
North Webster, IN 46555 90%627$70,399$203,400$188 larger
Lake Linden, MI 49945 90%479$59,453$159,100$162 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Endeavor, WI 53930 90%396$72,778$224,200$182 pricier homes ($31K 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.