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 Cavalier, ND 58220

Cavalier: median income $61,199, home value $183,200, $125/sq ft, 12-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miller, SD 57362 96%303$67,083$158,900$151 Very close on everything we compare
Malta, MT 59538 94%463$57,097$191,800— Very close on everything we compare
Flandreau, SD 57028 92%331$72,798$193,800$122 larger
Holdrege, NE 68949 92%582$63,273$197,200$114 larger
Center, CO 81125 92%871$56,250$148,700$137 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Thermopolis, WY 82443 92%615$62,767$230,000$141 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Fosston, MN 56542 91%124$59,706$186,300$128 Very close on everything we compare
Redfield, SD 57469 91%274$66,111$152,900$125 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents
Beloit, KS 67420 91%646$62,938$144,200— cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Ord, NE 68862 91%501$60,321$163,100— Very close on everything we compare
Burlington, KS 66839 90%736$63,077$175,500$119 larger · 6 min longer commute
Canadian, TX 79014 90%901$62,273$204,300$153 Very close on everything we compare
Redwood Falls, MN 56283 89%319$66,352$176,800$118 larger
Mobridge, SD 57601 89%258$66,003$154,600$91 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Valentine, NE 69201 89%437$62,101$161,300$106 larger
Wray, CO 80758 89%645$58,929$234,000$181 pricier homes ($51K more)
Machias, ME 04654 88%1,448$48,838$171,600$131 Very close on everything we compare
Algona, IA 50511 88%430$66,642$180,800$117 larger
Clarion, IA 50525 88%461$67,250$128,800$98 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Milbank, SD 57252 88%253$70,479$183,000$92 larger
Shelby, MT 59474 88%644$57,846$233,100$120 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Oneill, NE 68763 88%438$65,362$162,800$95 larger
Eastland, TX 76448 88%1,134$57,122$183,000$124 larger · 6 min longer commute
Benson, MN 56215 87%261$56,604$167,500$99 larger · older homes
Plentywood, MT 59254 87%312$68,750$164,400$109 older residents · older homes

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.