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 Kenmare, ND 58746

Kenmare: median income $70,263, home value $149,700, $87/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Clark, SD 57225 95%336$66,875$155,100$77 Very close on everything we compare
Genesee, PA 16923 94%1,259$73,864$173,900— Very close on everything we compare
Elgin, IA 52141 93%640$64,647$115,500$99 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Hallock, MN 56728 93%234$79,444$152,100$96 Very close on everything we compare
Tilden, NE 68781 92%505$67,212$171,700— Very close on everything we compare
Armstrong, IA 50514 91%517$73,000$137,100$63 Very close on everything we compare
Sac City, IA 50583 91%554$62,981$144,700$74 Very close on everything we compare
Inman, KS 67546 91%756$76,739$192,800$107 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Baileyville, ME 04694 90%1,638$65,417$130,000$133 Very close on everything we compare
West Middlesex, PA 16159 90%1,174$69,391$178,000— pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Smethport, PA 16749 90%1,238$72,250$120,100$84 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Eads, CO 81036 90%710$59,868$173,300— smaller
Sanborn, IA 51248 89%491$64,375$172,800$108 younger residents
Mellen, WI 54546 89%558$70,104$141,900$85 younger residents
Mound City, MO 64470 89%682$70,833$165,800$123 Very close on everything we compare
Wabasso, MN 56293 88%440$67,396$170,500$103 younger residents
Littlefork, MN 56653 88%391$74,583$168,900$119 7 min longer commute
Paint Rock, TX 76866 88%1,195$56,429$163,100— Very close on everything we compare
Britt, IA 50423 87%556$73,151$118,900$89 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older homes
Lake Preston, SD 57249 87%374$63,182$193,300— pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Cheyenne Wells, CO 80810 87%684$72,543$187,500$86 pricier homes ($38K more) · younger residents
West Point, IA 52656 86%759$83,750$189,900$110 pricier homes ($40K more) · 5 min longer commute
Niagara, WI 54151 86%689$69,511$140,100$129 larger · younger residents
Madison, MN 56256 86%380$65,521$124,200$119 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · older homes
Kimball, SD 57355 86%375$63,125$144,200— 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.