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 Jamestown, ND 58401

Jamestown: median income $60,228, home value $215,800, $120/sq ft, 12-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mitchell, SD 57301 93%225$65,620$208,200$155 Very close on everything we compare
Marshfield, WI 54449 91%441$67,551$211,600$146 larger
Saint Joseph, MO 64506 91%531$65,573$240,300$150 Very close on everything we compare
Fairmont, MN 56031 90%308$54,847$179,300$111 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Norfolk, NE 68701 90%344$62,633$214,500$137 larger · younger residents
Fort Smith, AR 72903 90%831$61,434$235,900$125 larger · younger residents
Presque Isle, ME 04769 89%1,444$55,768$147,200$148 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Tomah, WI 54660 89%449$61,186$197,200$152 5 min longer commute
Willmar, MN 56201 89%216$68,804$216,300$132 younger residents
Crookston, MN 56716 89%117$59,744$196,100$110 smaller · 5 min longer commute
North Platte, NE 69101 89%412$62,268$188,700$149 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Waterloo, IA 50701 88%438$61,475$183,800$128 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · younger residents
Spencer, IA 51301 88%315$63,402$188,300$122 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Grand Island, NE 68803 88%414$73,463$244,200$121 pricier homes ($28K more)
Longview, TX 75601 88%1,017$65,700$210,500$146 6 min longer commute
Paducah, KY 42001 87%854$71,365$215,300$143 larger
Fergus Falls, MN 56537 87%134$65,473$246,500$137 pricier homes ($31K more) · more homeowners
Wichita Falls, TX 76302 87%902$59,590$165,800$133 cheaper homes ($50K less) · younger residents
Rawlins, WY 82301 87%548$62,841$217,300$126 smaller · more homeowners
Las Vegas, NM 87701 87%851$49,920$182,200$147 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 6 min longer commute
Bristol, VA 24201 86%1,107$48,764$176,500$135 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 6 min longer commute
Mansfield, OH 44906 86%910$52,624$140,300$147 cheaper homes ($76K less) · 5 min longer commute
Evansville, IN 47715 86%842$60,897$210,600$152 larger
Miles City, MT 59301 86%338$71,332$217,900— Very close on everything we compare
Hastings, NE 68901 86%438$66,585$190,100$109 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · younger residents

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.