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.

Reset

Towns most like Milnor, ND 58060

Milnor: median income $77,143, home value $167,800, $167/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waukomis, OK 73773 97%686$78,250$154,900$153 Very close on everything we compare
Merigold, MS 38759 94%925$77,083$143,400— Very close on everything we compare
Badger, MN 56714 94%190$70,962$157,100— Very close on everything we compare
Broadus, MT 59317 94%381$71,250$197,400— pricier homes ($30K more)
Greentop, MO 63546 94%474$72,404$173,600$143 Very close on everything we compare
Wathena, KS 66090 94%463$87,025$161,100$152 larger
Texico, NM 88135 94%867$70,417$145,000— Very close on everything we compare
Croghan, NY 13327 93%1,088$66,875$181,300$144 larger
Rosholt, SD 57260 93%43$82,656$170,000$216 Very close on everything we compare
Sidney, IA 51652 92%388$82,200$134,800$165 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Wall, SD 57790 92%278$75,096$187,500$172 Very close on everything we compare
Basin, WY 82410 92%528$68,839$197,300$155 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Covington, PA 16917 91%1,057$62,321$156,600$187 Very close on everything we compare
Jonesport, ME 04649 90%1,446$67,500$142,000$225 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Wysox, PA 18854 90%1,088$77,917$207,300$143 pricier homes ($40K more)
Green Springs, OH 44836 90%795$79,299$139,500$170 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Walcott, IA 52773 90%460$85,523$214,400$178 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Mountain Iron, MN 55768 90%247$86,075$198,500$145 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Woonsocket, SD 57385 90%153$70,404$126,900$152 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older homes
Hopedale, IL 61747 90%568$80,333$188,200$126 Very close on everything we compare
Pomona, KS 66076 90%534$73,945$187,900$173 larger · 5 min longer commute
Tilden, NE 68781 90%287$67,212$171,700— older homes
Bradley, ME 04411 89%1,391$76,667$201,800$152 pricier homes ($34K more) · 5 min longer commute
Corsica, PA 15829 89%974$64,167$140,700$123 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Hildebran, NC 28637 89%1,104$67,500$197,900$185 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger

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.