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 Williston, ND 58801

Williston: median income $84,702, home value $298,300, $201/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sioux Falls, SD 57106 87%463$77,580$290,200$188 larger
Charlotte, NC 28273 86%1,471$87,350$340,600$197 pricier homes ($42K more)
Sioux Falls, SD 57107 86%461$74,141$269,600$188 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Bryan, TX 77807 84%1,270$74,375$278,600$181 smaller
Box Elder, SD 57719 83%285$74,885$317,300$203 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Euless, TX 76040 82%1,117$72,661$297,900$195 7 min longer commute · older homes
Lexington Park, MD 20653 81%1,522$103,048$353,300$186 pricier homes ($55K more)
Abilene, TX 79606 81%1,113$79,196$272,600$192 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Beaufort, SC 29906 80%1,617$68,174$265,300$230 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 8 min longer commute
Grand Rapids, MI 49512 80%948$71,329$314,900$190 smaller
Saint Cloud, MN 56301 80%484$73,142$288,600$149 older homes
La Vista, NE 68128 80%612$86,410$291,300$171 smaller · more single-family homes
Springdale, AR 72764 80%965$65,898$249,800$205 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Newport News, VA 23602 79%1,566$79,475$288,200$193 7 min longer commute · older homes
Jacksonville, FL 32246 79%1,702$80,963$312,900$222 larger
Bloomington, IN 47403 79%1,056$70,582$239,700$185 cheaper homes ($59K less) · older homes
Bellevue, NE 68123 79%620$93,188$290,800$170 more single-family homes
Austin, TX 78744 79%1,285$83,002$357,500$212 pricier homes ($59K more) · 8 min longer commute
Austin, TX 78754 79%1,275$90,121$349,400$192 pricier homes ($51K more) · 7 min longer commute
Lemoore, CA 93245 79%1,164$80,412$338,900$246 pricier homes ($41K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Dover, DE 19901 78%1,529$66,388$273,000$183 cheaper homes ($25K less) · older homes
Augusta, GA 30909 78%1,510$71,364$242,400$155 cheaper homes ($56K less) · older residents
Port Wentworth, GA 31407 78%1,614$81,124$256,300$168 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 9 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Lincoln, NE 68521 78%613$67,483$252,800$162 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more walkable
Fort Worth, TX 76120 78%1,120$80,922$306,700$180 smaller · 10 min longer commute

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.