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 Linton, ND 58552

Linton: median income $65,515, home value $122,000, $98/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Smethport, PA 16749 90%1,119$72,250$120,100$84 larger
Sac City, IA 50583 89%367$62,981$144,700$74 5 min shorter commute
Dunlap, IA 51529 88%376$61,599$156,800$115 pricier homes ($35K more)
Elgin, IA 52141 88%478$64,647$115,500$99 younger residents · more homeowners
Madison, MN 56256 88%213$65,521$124,200$119 larger
Clark, SD 57225 88%151$66,875$155,100$77 pricier homes ($33K more) · younger residents
Deposit, NY 13754 87%1,257$61,000$132,400$81 larger
Littlefork, MN 56653 87%348$74,583$168,900$119 pricier homes ($47K more)
Mound City, MO 64470 87%488$70,833$165,800$123 pricier homes ($44K more) · younger residents
Tarkio, MO 64491 87%466$57,500$91,300$126 cheaper homes ($31K less) · younger residents
Normalville, PA 15469 86%1,128$56,301$140,100— larger
Polk, PA 16342 86%1,063$63,750$114,700$123 more homeowners
Walton, IN 46994 86%795$56,563$136,200$102 younger residents
Ontonagon, MI 49953 86%519$59,375$119,800$147 larger
Corning, IA 50841 86%452$66,875$116,700$95 larger · younger residents
Jetmore, KS 67854 86%561$57,104$97,400$95 smaller · younger residents
Island Falls, ME 04747 85%1,521$56,795$120,200$111 younger residents
Sodus, NY 14551 85%1,152$59,167$123,500$128 larger
West Middlesex, PA 16159 85%1,044$69,391$178,000— pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Armstrong, IA 50514 85%341$73,000$137,100$63 Very close on everything we compare
Mapleton, IA 51034 85%355$66,375$120,500$104 younger residents
Hurley, WI 54534 85%479$53,468$123,600$121 larger · younger residents
Twin Valley, MN 56584 85%203$69,625$131,600$85 younger residents
Marion, KS 66861 85%565$60,565$150,300$108 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · younger residents
Rising Star, TX 76471 85%974$54,773$141,700$142 Very close on everything we compare

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.