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 Saint John, ND 58369

Saint John: median income $68,235, home value $135,000, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Vernon Center, NY 13477 95%1,227$71,111$137,500$121 Very close on everything we compare
Reeds, MO 64859 93%863$61,429$122,900$142 5 min longer commute
East Springfield, PA 16411 92%1,049$66,779$151,700$96 5 min longer commute
Kiowa, OK 74553 92%1,001$59,063$124,100$146 Very close on everything we compare
Union Grove, NC 28689 91%1,304$70,565$157,100$244 larger
Badger, MN 56714 91%167$70,962$157,100— Very close on everything we compare
Quitman, LA 71268 91%1,203$69,018$154,500$104 larger · 5 min longer commute
Texico, NM 88135 91%1,019$70,417$145,000— Very close on everything we compare
Luthersburg, PA 15848 90%1,157$66,250$138,100— younger residents
Avis, PA 17721 90%1,213$59,073$140,800$102 Very close on everything we compare
Energy, IL 62933 90%939$67,794$156,100$51 Very close on everything we compare
Crawfordsville, AR 72327 90%1,063$82,750$119,300— Very close on everything we compare
Winthrop, NY 13697 89%1,208$75,953$128,100$103 larger
Corsica, PA 15829 89%1,133$64,167$140,700$123 older homes
Covington, PA 16917 89%1,203$62,321$156,600$187 Very close on everything we compare
Davisville, WV 26142 89%1,124$62,941$113,200$130 larger
Hodges, SC 29653 89%1,352$64,722$136,000$184 larger
Gleason, TN 38229 89%1,044$58,715$146,600$125 larger · 5 min longer commute
Merigold, MS 38759 89%1,142$77,083$143,400— Very close on everything we compare
Hickory, KY 42051 89%1,004$76,000$162,800$141 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Bowler, WI 54416 89%579$60,859$128,200$728 larger
Rib Lake, WI 54470 89%516$61,589$167,300$128 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Milnor, ND 58060 89%217$77,143$167,800$167 pricier homes ($33K more)
Copenhagen, NY 13626 88%1,193$64,495$179,300$158 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Harpursville, NY 13787 88%1,250$66,222$132,500$107 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.