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 Custer, SD 57730

Custer: median income $83,469, home value $378,800, $279/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Enfield, NH 03748 94%1,556$95,089$388,500$290 Very close on everything we compare
Wiscasset, ME 04578 93%1,670$81,063$327,400$234 cheaper homes ($51K less) · younger residents
Spring Green, WI 53588 93%670$83,417$292,300$232 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Maggie Valley, NC 28751 91%1,215$69,057$313,500$292 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Rock Hall, MD 21661 90%1,437$90,492$283,200$304 cheaper homes ($96K less) · smaller
Tryon, NC 28782 90%1,267$72,946$345,200$238 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Bokeelia, FL 33922 90%1,671$71,164$355,800$269 Very close on everything we compare
North Bend, OH 45052 90%1,015$101,165$304,900$264 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Minocqua, WI 54548 90%687$69,569$336,400$288 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Sheridan, MT 59749 90%447$80,238$382,400$332 smaller
Llano, TX 78643 90%932$68,365$362,600$239 Very close on everything we compare
Palisade, CO 81526 90%406$87,500$501,800$337 pricier homes ($123K more) · younger residents
Chestertown, NY 12817 89%1,473$93,393$327,600$316 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Flagler Beach, FL 32136 89%1,570$78,818$471,000$280 pricier homes ($92K more)
Elkhart Lake, WI 53020 89%770$89,155$330,900$248 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Eagle River, WI 54521 89%711$74,071$305,100$257 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Pelican Rapids, MN 56572 89%412$79,475$298,800$226 cheaper homes ($80K less) · younger residents
Rocky Mount, MO 65072 89%670$78,750$335,700$286 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
La Conner, WA 98257 89%970$94,425$506,200$300 pricier homes ($127K more)
Meredith, NH 03253 88%1,586$84,719$482,700$354 pricier homes ($104K more)
White Stone, VA 22578 88%1,470$80,783$441,600$252 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 88%1,245$71,383$341,400$248 cheaper homes ($37K less) · younger residents
Amery, WI 54001 88%555$80,344$286,800$200 cheaper homes ($92K less) · younger residents
Green Lake, WI 54941 88%721$79,146$276,000$239 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller
Deerwood, MN 56444 88%504$77,500$365,200$238 smaller · younger 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.