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 Wahpeton, ND 58075

Wahpeton: median income $68,537, home value $184,400, $117/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Carthage, NY 13619 93%1,042$63,120$178,700$131 Very close on everything we compare
Liberty, NY 12754 92%1,134$67,624$223,500$135 pricier homes ($39K more)
Beaumont, TX 77708 90%1,128$56,586$158,500$109 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Hardin, MT 59034 89%520$60,726$169,800$140 smaller
Gallup, NM 87301 89%972$58,772$168,500$149 larger
Mansfield, PA 16933 88%1,024$65,096$210,300$146 pricier homes ($26K more)
Monroe City, MO 63456 88%528$64,160$161,200$116 smaller
Bellevue, NE 68005 88%361$66,551$205,900$153 larger
Longview, TX 75601 88%961$65,700$210,500$146 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Milton, PA 17847 87%1,059$58,775$197,100$137 more homeowners
Collinsville, VA 24078 87%1,093$53,665$143,400$119 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Flint, MI 48532 87%677$61,998$169,200$109 larger
Sidney, MT 59270 87%360$72,630$267,600$133 pricier homes ($83K more)
Loves Park, IL 61111 87%473$61,393$158,600$149 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Fort Smith, AR 72903 87%770$61,434$235,900$125 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Pittston, PA 18640 86%1,099$60,862$147,500$116 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · older homes
Clinton, SC 29325 86%1,131$60,259$177,400$126 larger · more homeowners
Saginaw, MI 48638 86%656$69,459$172,600$113 older residents
Crookston, MN 56716 86%100$59,744$196,100$110 Very close on everything we compare
Silvis, IL 61282 86%461$64,398$160,100$137 older residents
Lexington, NE 68850 86%411$69,238$161,400$116 younger residents
Bay City, TX 77414 86%1,208$59,128$172,000$141 larger
Grants, NM 87020 86%964$62,746$154,400$134 cheaper homes ($30K less) · more homeowners
Lock Haven, PA 17745 85%1,027$58,555$177,100$120 larger · older homes
Taylor, PA 18517 85%1,100$77,120$190,100$117 smaller · more homeowners

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.