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 Valley City, ND 58072

Valley City: median income $64,375, home value $177,800, $108/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Crookston, MN 56716 98%88$59,744$196,100$110 Very close on everything we compare
Charleston, WV 25311 94%1,020$62,800$137,200$127 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Spencer, IA 51301 93%296$63,402$188,300$122 larger
Holdrege, NE 68949 93%453$63,273$197,200$114 Very close on everything we compare
Norwich, NY 13815 91%1,140$61,469$133,900$113 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Mansfield, PA 16933 91%1,089$65,096$210,300$146 pricier homes ($33K more)
Sayre, PA 18840 91%1,109$59,214$171,300$136 Very close on everything we compare
Ashland, WI 54806 91%345$64,864$185,800$112 Very close on everything we compare
Seneca Falls, NY 13148 90%1,071$65,313$149,300$124 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Fredonia, NY 14063 89%966$57,937$183,500$146 larger
Carbondale, PA 18407 89%1,168$59,652$162,800$108 larger · 5 min longer commute
Pittston, PA 18640 89%1,163$60,862$147,500$116 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Saginaw, MI 48638 89%722$69,459$172,600$113 larger · 7 min longer commute
Grinnell, IA 50112 89%443$67,078$214,900$136 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Fairmont, MN 56031 89%285$54,847$179,300$111 older residents
Benson, MN 56215 89%161$56,604$167,500$99 smaller · more single-family homes
Redwood Falls, MN 56283 89%216$66,352$176,800$118 Very close on everything we compare
Glendive, MT 59330 89%317$70,964$185,900$105 Very close on everything we compare
Presque Isle, ME 04769 88%1,410$55,768$147,200$148 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Binghamton, NY 13903 88%1,135$66,278$157,500$116 larger
Johnstown, PA 15904 88%1,058$67,394$176,200$124 larger
Huntington, WV 25701 88%983$56,292$164,300$115 larger
Mount Pleasant, IA 52641 88%522$64,512$171,400$112 larger · more single-family homes
Miles City, MT 59301 88%373$71,332$217,900— pricier homes ($40K more)
Longview, TX 75601 88%1,010$65,700$210,500$146 pricier homes ($33K 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.