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 Rugby, ND 58368

Rugby: median income $58,854, home value $153,200, $97/sq ft, 11-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mobridge, SD 57601 95%189$66,003$154,600$91 Very close on everything we compare
Kingsford, MI 49802 94%585$62,209$126,500$116 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Ord, NE 68862 93%463$60,321$163,100— Very close on everything we compare
Imperial, NE 69033 91%540$67,135$171,300— Very close on everything we compare
Algona, IA 50511 90%453$66,642$180,800$117 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Neligh, NE 68756 89%433$61,667$158,300$89 smaller
Wheeler, TX 79096 89%886$67,165$160,600$88 smaller
Clarion, IA 50525 88%487$67,250$128,800$98 older residents
Harlan, IA 51537 88%511$65,000$166,800$108 larger · older homes
Granite Falls, MN 56241 88%318$66,875$155,600$113 5 min longer commute
Marysville, KS 66508 88%604$55,636$135,400— older homes
Beloit, KS 67420 88%616$62,938$144,200— more renters
Mountain Lake, MN 56159 87%384$71,648$161,800$96 Very close on everything we compare
Milbank, SD 57252 87%264$70,479$183,000$92 pricier homes ($30K more)
Fulton, IL 61252 87%652$59,861$141,500$88 larger · 6 min longer commute
Stratford, TX 79084 87%830$54,808$134,800$77 smaller
Center, CO 81125 87%789$56,250$148,700$137 Very close on everything we compare
Cherokee, IA 51012 86%437$69,531$151,400$83 larger
Ada, MN 56510 86%170$70,000$145,700$82 5 min longer commute
Warren, MN 56762 86%148$62,933$160,100$102 5 min longer commute
Lake Andes, SD 57356 86%361$54,107$113,900$126 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Frontenac, KS 66763 86%793$58,733$165,600$123 8 min longer commute
Hillsboro, KS 67063 86%699$72,083$155,500$84 Very close on everything we compare
Ness City, KS 67560 86%678$68,654$121,700$93 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Russell, KS 67665 86%650$60,662$136,100$92 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.