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 Center, ND 58530

Center: median income $82,000, home value $200,800, $71/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dunkerton, IA 50626 91%542$84,306$209,400$91 Very close on everything we compare
South New Berlin, NY 13843 90%1,296$79,018$175,500$65 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · older homes
Lawtons, NY 14091 90%1,131$82,833$236,200— pricier homes ($35K more)
Loami, IL 62661 88%766$80,833$180,300— 6 min longer commute
Spruce Pine, AL 35585 87%1,119$92,679$211,200$94 Very close on everything we compare
Minford, OH 45653 87%1,083$82,125$176,100— larger
Illiopolis, IL 62539 87%780$82,750$123,400$73 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Pilot Grove, MO 65276 87%706$78,958$186,300— larger · more renters
Indiahoma, OK 73552 87%874$85,500$152,900— cheaper homes ($48K less) · older residents
Newfolden, MN 56738 86%241$71,250$187,200— older residents
Canute, OK 73626 86%817$68,462$155,100$66 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Thomas, OK 73669 86%798$69,821$151,100$67 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older homes
Townville, PA 16360 85%1,112$71,528$161,500$96 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Cory, IN 47846 85%884$77,228$121,800— cheaper homes ($79K less)
Bloomington, WI 53804 85%581$82,917$165,800$114 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Arpin, WI 54410 85%564$84,135$213,200— larger · older residents
Liberty, IL 62347 85%710$93,810$225,900$103 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · older residents
Divernon, IL 62530 85%778$82,188$160,100$104 cheaper homes ($41K less) · more renters
Agency, MO 64401 85%609$99,398$271,900— pricier homes ($71K more) · larger
Oskaloosa, KS 66066 85%622$79,990$225,700$107 larger
Minatare, NE 69356 85%384$73,787$189,500$75 larger · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Ringwood, OK 73768 85%759$86,359$137,500$63 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Mooreland, OK 73852 85%746$66,229$161,200$88 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Mannsville, NY 13661 84%1,233$82,297$183,400$117 larger
Lindley, NY 14858 84%1,228$81,750$145,200— cheaper homes ($56K less)

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.