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 Hot Springs, SD 57747

Hot Springs: median income $68,443, home value $221,000, $174/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Derby, VT 05829 89%1,547$73,456$216,200$182 smaller
Wellsboro, PA 16901 88%1,331$67,146$237,100$139 larger · younger residents
Wabasha, MN 55981 88%573$71,607$273,400$181 pricier homes ($52K more) · 5 min longer commute
North Lima, OH 44452 87%1,177$61,602$256,600$119 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Spooner, WI 54801 86%592$62,625$216,500$210 younger residents · more single-family homes
Gorham, NH 03581 85%1,600$64,127$196,400$135 smaller · younger residents
West Middlesex, PA 16159 85%1,183$69,391$178,000— cheaper homes ($43K less) · younger residents
New Market, VA 22844 85%1,328$65,974$281,200$202 pricier homes ($60K more) · younger residents
Kimberling City, MO 65686 85%707$58,363$257,300$197 pricier homes ($36K more) · newer homes
Dove Creek, CO 81324 85%484$71,630$223,100— smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Galena, IL 61036 84%664$81,989$279,000$178 pricier homes ($58K more)
Akron, NY 14001 83%1,253$75,107$232,300$199 larger · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Freedom, PA 15042 83%1,204$75,742$231,700$193 younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Valdese, NC 28690 83%1,277$67,000$211,300$219 larger · younger residents
Columbus, NC 28722 83%1,265$67,760$307,300$225 pricier homes ($86K more)
Crystal River, FL 34429 83%1,529$55,395$253,200$167 pricier homes ($32K more)
North Webster, IN 46555 83%916$70,399$203,400$188 smaller · younger residents
Del Norte, CO 81132 83%428$55,000$209,500$235 smaller · younger residents
Hagerman, ID 83332 83%577$64,792$226,200$250 smaller
Belfast, ME 04915 82%1,704$66,362$308,700$271 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger
Newport, ME 04953 82%1,687$60,365$234,800$182 smaller · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Lewiston, NY 14092 82%1,225$72,218$279,900$199 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · younger residents
Beaufort, NC 28516 82%1,551$66,057$315,400$270 pricier homes ($94K more) · larger
State Road, NC 28676 82%1,290$60,833$242,600$191 smaller · younger residents · more single-family homes
Phillips, WI 54555 82%662$59,025$186,900$153 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 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.