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 Winner, SD 57580

Winner: median income $59,547, home value $133,900, $94/sq ft, 12-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Milan, MO 63556 97%406$58,851$124,100$107 Very close on everything we compare
Emmetsburg, IA 50536 93%258$59,261$122,000$112 Very close on everything we compare
Hugoton, KS 67951 93%433$63,527$131,500$103 Very close on everything we compare
Warren, MN 56762 92%371$62,933$160,100$102 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller
Houlton, ME 04730 91%1,569$61,980$145,200$128 larger
White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986 91%1,089$50,610$121,000$105 6 min longer commute
Clarion, IA 50525 91%310$67,250$128,800$98 Very close on everything we compare
Charles City, IA 50616 91%359$64,830$140,600$99 larger
Cherokee, IA 51012 91%218$69,531$151,400$83 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Sterling, IL 62353 91%522$66,000$152,100$128 Very close on everything we compare
Shelbyville, IL 62565 91%629$66,498$137,600$81 larger
New Madrid, MO 63869 91%714$57,959$132,100$108 Very close on everything we compare
Neligh, NE 68756 91%123$61,667$158,300$89 smaller
Cozad, NE 69130 91%171$63,388$154,300$126 5 min longer commute
Perry, OK 73077 91%505$62,763$132,700$111 5 min longer commute
Falls Creek, PA 15840 90%1,081$57,344$123,100$123 smaller
Atlantic, IA 50022 90%279$63,125$157,600$104 larger
Creston, IA 50801 90%321$58,015$124,900$106 larger
Clarinda, IA 51632 90%303$55,055$143,000$130 larger
Granite Falls, MN 56241 90%234$66,875$155,600$113 Very close on everything we compare
Fulton, IL 61252 90%501$59,861$141,500$88 Very close on everything we compare
Brookfield, MO 64628 90%425$59,361$123,500$110 Very close on everything we compare
Trenton, MO 64683 90%390$52,109$110,000$78 larger
Russell, KS 67665 90%311$60,662$136,100$92 older homes
Atwood, KS 67730 90%253$66,250$120,100— smaller

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.