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 New Rockford, ND 58356

New Rockford: median income $51,042, home value $123,500, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Springer, NM 87747 93%836$55,948$119,500$27 Very close on everything we compare
Red Bay, AL 35582 90%1,073$48,235$117,900$64 larger
Oolitic, IN 47451 90%869$60,938$126,400$176 Very close on everything we compare
Toledo, IA 52342 89%501$57,813$142,700$102 larger
Erie, KS 66733 89%723$52,667$147,200$67 Very close on everything we compare
Loup City, NE 68853 89%444$54,674$135,000$159 Very close on everything we compare
Seymour, TX 76380 89%976$45,880$103,100$115 larger
Falls Creek, PA 15840 88%1,086$57,344$123,100$123 Very close on everything we compare
Ceredo, WV 25507 88%1,043$49,245$148,400$73 more walkable
Appleton City, MO 64724 88%703$49,338$115,600$86 younger residents
Council Grove, KS 66846 88%634$61,842$154,100$109 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Washburn, ME 04786 87%1,435$55,326$115,100$214 less walkable
Sharon, TN 38255 87%945$45,990$110,400$72 Very close on everything we compare
Hettinger, ND 58639 87%216$63,636$116,500$52 Very close on everything we compare
Albany, MO 64402 87%563$54,444$111,900— younger residents
Columbus, KS 66725 87%757$48,443$105,000$73 larger
Limestone, ME 04750 86%1,446$48,750$96,600$121 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Winchester, IL 62694 86%699$58,460$102,200$59 larger
Morrill, NE 69358 86%467$52,159$152,800$137 pricier homes ($29K more)
Medford, OK 73759 86%756$51,705$104,300$68 5 min longer commute
Laverne, OK 73848 86%762$57,619$124,200— more homeowners · more single-family homes
Arco, ID 83213 86%750$43,472$163,800$147 pricier homes ($40K more)
Machias, ME 04654 85%1,506$48,838$171,600$131 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Mars Hill, ME 04758 85%1,452$65,156$162,200$120 pricier homes ($39K more)
Altavista, VA 24517 85%1,234$53,201$145,200$151 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.