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 Martin, SD 57551

Martin: median income $70,096, home value $161,900, 13-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mountain Lake, MN 56159 93%345$71,648$161,800$96 Very close on everything we compare
Ellendale, ND 58436 93%252$69,286$164,100$110 Very close on everything we compare
Wisner, NE 68791 92%258$69,018$165,300$137 5 min longer commute
Broken Bow, NE 68822 92%162$67,500$154,600— larger
Hawarden, IA 51023 91%266$80,357$173,300$99 larger
Fairbury, IL 61739 91%699$76,555$164,400$112 larger
Sabetha, KS 66534 91%381$73,050$198,900$87 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Beloit, KS 67420 91%319$62,938$144,200— larger · older residents
Hoxie, KS 67740 91%273$75,417$186,600— Very close on everything we compare
Scott City, KS 67871 91%327$68,339$160,500$160 larger
Ord, NE 68862 91%179$60,321$163,100— older residents
Valentine, NE 69201 91%62$62,101$161,300$106 larger
Farwell, TX 79325 91%611$71,771$163,400— Very close on everything we compare
Forest City, IA 50436 90%408$74,940$167,900$96 larger
Alta, IA 51002 90%327$70,625$167,100$118 more homeowners
Warren, MN 56762 90%425$62,933$160,100$102 Very close on everything we compare
Goodland, KS 67735 90%264$61,042$136,400$30 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Beaver, OK 73932 90%443$58,155$155,600$61 Very close on everything we compare
Wheeler, TX 79096 90%541$67,165$160,600$88 Very close on everything we compare
Clara City, MN 56222 89%340$71,429$156,600$96 Very close on everything we compare
Ada, MN 56510 89%380$70,000$145,700$82 older residents
Quinter, KS 67752 89%296$74,861$133,100$76 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more homeowners
Renville, MN 56284 88%343$72,500$162,500$116 6 min longer commute
Oakes, ND 58474 88%266$72,969$160,700$342 more homeowners
Burlington, KS 66839 88%464$63,077$175,500$119 larger · older residents · 5 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.