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 Rapid City, SD 57703

Rapid City: median income $83,739, home value $277,100, $222/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ocala, FL 34480 92%1,552$77,557$282,700$184 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Wayne, IN 46818 92%934$81,066$235,100$179 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Wayland, MI 49348 91%886$82,512$275,400$206 6 min longer commute
Amarillo, TX 79118 91%624$87,810$234,500$163 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Byron, GA 31008 90%1,309$83,992$215,500$156 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Lowell, AR 72745 90%719$91,207$281,800$212 Very close on everything we compare
Kenai, AK 99611 90%2,260$79,757$308,500$245 pricier homes ($31K more) · older homes
Newport, NC 28570 89%1,534$70,229$260,000$208 older residents
Maiden, NC 28650 89%1,301$74,922$229,000$185 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Thomasville, GA 31757 89%1,390$79,593$224,500$174 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Jacksonville, FL 32220 89%1,502$81,792$254,700$172 older residents
Smiths Station, AL 36877 89%1,257$78,103$224,200$172 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Powell, TN 37849 89%1,149$84,275$290,900$211 larger · 6 min longer commute
Flat Rock, MI 48134 89%1,011$92,076$276,100$183 6 min longer commute
Billings, MT 59105 89%296$78,014$349,300$196 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger
Tyler, TX 75707 89%919$84,954$274,900$173 Very close on everything we compare
Grand Junction, CO 81504 89%440$70,958$316,500$260 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Tucson, AZ 85756 89%926$72,490$233,500$177 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Hobbs, NM 88242 89%776$90,000$260,200$198 smaller · younger residents
Selah, WA 98942 89%860$84,646$382,300$239 pricier homes ($105K more) · older homes
Soldotna, AK 99669 89%2,255$80,980$320,200$269 pricier homes ($43K more)
Harrington, DE 19952 88%1,464$76,791$282,600$208 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Candler, NC 28715 88%1,231$71,716$309,000$258 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Forsyth, GA 31029 88%1,282$76,334$247,900$175 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 6 min longer commute
Ashville, OH 43103 88%1,079$83,291$270,200$175 6 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.