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 Mc Laughlin, SD 57642

Mc Laughlin: median income $58,750, home value $70,000, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dunseith, ND 58329 87%210$51,065$88,800— Very close on everything we compare
Winnebago, NE 68071 85%334$67,632$87,400— Very close on everything we compare
Bay, AR 72411 84%883$55,625$111,400$134 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Harlem, MT 59526 83%413$63,869$85,200— 7 min shorter commute
Swifton, AR 72471 83%860$45,313$69,900$54 7 min longer commute
Hart, TX 79043 83%796$57,956$60,200$102 older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Walthill, NE 68067 82%338$67,159$54,600— smaller · more homeowners
Poplar, MT 59255 81%255$45,379$91,800— larger
Parma, MO 63870 81%860$57,639$62,100— smaller · older residents · older homes
Peach Springs, AZ 86434 81%968$58,080$103,700— pricier homes ($34K more) · newer homes
Hays, MT 59527 80%396$54,500$80,800— older residents
Stamford, TX 79553 80%895$47,839$69,500$109 larger · older residents · older homes
Dimmitt, TX 79027 79%787$50,865$90,900$125 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Floydada, TX 79235 79%823$52,935$95,800$59 pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents · more homeowners
White Swan, WA 98952 79%949$50,417$102,300— pricier homes ($32K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Okeene, OK 73763 78%687$61,868$135,400$84 pricier homes ($65K more)
Bovina, TX 79009 78%792$65,333$116,300$143 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents
Trona, CA 93562 78%1,107$65,650$66,100$57 older residents · more homeowners · older homes
Hollandale, MS 38748 77%1,026$44,615$83,900$51 larger · 7 min longer commute
Carterville, MO 64835 77%689$58,849$97,600$142 pricier homes ($28K more) · more homeowners
Cherryvale, KS 67335 77%655$56,295$105,600$163 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · older residents
Sebree, KY 42455 76%894$68,324$114,500$97 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Neopit, WI 54150 76%588$54,464$66,800— smaller · more homeowners
Box Elder, MT 59521 76%452$50,288$103,700— pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · more renters
Slater, MO 65349 76%608$45,982$98,400$82 pricier homes ($28K more) · 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.