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.

Reset

Towns most like Velva, ND 58790

Velva: median income $83,233, home value $224,600, $108/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Elm Creek, NE 68836 97%513$86,806$224,800$115 Very close on everything we compare
Chapman, KS 67431 95%658$82,500$199,500$117 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Weeping Water, NE 68463 95%550$85,972$199,500$128 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Battle Creek, NE 68715 95%450$95,714$238,800$123 Very close on everything we compare
Mannsville, NY 13661 94%1,226$82,297$183,400$117 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Cairo, NE 68824 94%501$77,989$219,900$115 Very close on everything we compare
Oskaloosa, KS 66066 93%673$79,990$225,700$107 Very close on everything we compare
Gibbon, NE 68840 93%516$76,394$208,100$91 larger
Rossville, IN 46065 92%882$80,104$216,300$133 larger
Hayfield, MN 55940 92%484$83,885$245,900$154 larger
Lewiston, MN 55952 92%519$91,389$228,200$139 larger
Minneota, MN 56264 92%339$81,071$189,600$81 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Clayville, NY 13322 91%1,285$91,369$204,800$141 Very close on everything we compare
Reedsville, PA 17084 91%1,254$80,197$197,000$121 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Colfax, IA 50054 91%579$89,940$211,500$143 larger
Larchwood, IA 51241 91%387$87,446$280,600$145 pricier homes ($56K more)
Walker, IA 52352 91%598$92,321$231,300$131 older residents
Donnellson, IA 52625 91%689$80,078$205,300$125 Very close on everything we compare
Belmont, WI 53510 91%632$82,083$229,800$169 Very close on everything we compare
Wood River, NE 68883 91%514$90,966$206,000$119 larger
Sutherland, NE 69165 91%478$75,795$211,800$105 older residents
Morrison, OK 73061 91%838$91,250$215,900$111 Very close on everything we compare
Miles, TX 76861 91%1,138$85,714$218,200$171 Very close on everything we compare
Adams Center, NY 13606 90%1,226$88,977$203,900$143 larger
Lawtons, NY 14091 90%1,131$82,833$236,200— 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.