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 Mitchell, SD 57301

Mitchell: median income $65,620, home value $208,200, $155/sq ft, 13-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Norfolk, NE 68701 97%120$62,633$214,500$137 larger
Willmar, MN 56201 96%177$68,804$216,300$132 Very close on everything we compare
North Platte, NE 69101 96%226$62,268$188,700$149 Very close on everything we compare
Marshfield, WI 54449 95%394$67,551$211,600$146 Very close on everything we compare
Longview, TX 75601 95%794$65,700$210,500$146 5 min longer commute
Waterloo, IA 50701 94%298$61,475$183,800$128 larger
Saint Joseph, MO 64506 94%318$65,573$240,300$150 pricier homes ($32K more)
Riverton, WY 82501 94%513$60,449$237,800$164 pricier homes ($30K more)
Le Mars, IA 51031 93%113$76,525$222,800$145 Very close on everything we compare
Tomah, WI 54660 93%377$61,186$197,200$152 Very close on everything we compare
Rice Lake, WI 54868 93%333$64,318$227,800$158 Very close on everything we compare
Jamestown, ND 58401 93%225$60,228$215,800$120 Very close on everything we compare
Lima, OH 45805 92%738$68,842$160,600$141 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Sault Sainte Marie, MI 49783 92%695$60,658$158,800$156 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Wausau, WI 54401 92%420$71,586$196,700$165 larger
Miles City, MT 59301 92%424$71,332$217,900— smaller
Fremont, NE 68025 92%175$72,254$222,000$165 larger
Columbus, NE 68601 92%161$68,480$221,900$125 larger
Scottsbluff, NE 69361 92%312$58,623$155,100$174 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Wichita Falls, TX 76302 92%681$59,590$165,800$133 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Price, UT 84501 92%717$58,617$243,800$149 pricier homes ($36K more)
Owensboro, KY 42303 91%705$64,773$198,200$157 larger
Spencer, IA 51301 91%150$63,402$188,300$122 smaller
Devils Lake, ND 58301 91%307$59,515$205,000$154 smaller
Grand Island, NE 68803 91%193$73,463$244,200$121 pricier homes ($36K 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.