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 Minot, ND 58701

Minot: median income $73,269, home value $277,800, $144/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Grand Rapids, MI 49508 94%841$70,120$281,600$187 Very close on everything we compare
Ephrata, PA 17522 93%1,355$74,828$285,200$189 Very close on everything we compare
Dover, DE 19901 93%1,424$66,388$273,000$183 Very close on everything we compare
Dalton, GA 30720 93%1,251$69,369$249,800$146 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Pensacola, FL 32514 93%1,431$66,644$259,600$167 Very close on everything we compare
Alexandria, LA 71303 93%1,257$67,156$244,200$143 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Columbus, OH 43231 92%1,066$73,986$237,000$197 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Appleton, WI 54914 92%672$79,875$237,400$180 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Longview, TX 75605 92%1,135$73,190$252,300$160 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Corpus Christi, TX 78413 92%1,434$72,815$244,200$153 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Hampton, VA 23666 91%1,472$72,568$253,000$194 larger
Panama City, FL 32405 91%1,494$73,373$279,900$196 Very close on everything we compare
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 91%1,077$70,477$241,800$181 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Fairfield, OH 45014 91%1,034$75,661$232,400$170 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Fort Wayne, IN 46825 91%930$70,544$220,600$157 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Bloomington, IN 47403 91%965$70,582$239,700$185 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Menomonie, WI 54751 91%502$72,028$253,000$168 Very close on everything we compare
Harrisburg, PA 17111 90%1,324$86,385$235,500$165 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Harrisonburg, VA 22802 90%1,307$66,423$280,700$196 Very close on everything we compare
Florence, KY 41042 90%1,046$79,712$223,000$178 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Comstock Park, MI 49321 90%833$77,870$274,400$203 smaller
Laredo, TX 78041 90%1,432$61,544$221,300$152 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Shippensburg, PA 17257 89%1,300$71,181$227,900$156 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Dover, DE 19904 89%1,420$66,908$309,400$182 pricier homes ($32K more)
Salisbury, MD 21804 89%1,455$73,156$243,700$164 cheaper homes ($34K 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.