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 Sidney, MT 59270

Sidney: median income $72,630, home value $267,600, $133/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mifflinburg, PA 17844 95%1,411$68,314$235,000$149 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Orrville, OH 44667 92%1,199$75,616$208,600$166 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Baraboo, WI 53913 92%754$74,629$234,900$177 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Little Chute, WI 54140 92%795$82,472$227,000$168 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Saint Rose, LA 70087 92%1,431$73,406$235,400$155 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Brush, CO 80723 92%516$75,691$306,500$167 pricier homes ($39K more)
Craig, CO 81625 92%525$75,812$295,500$190 pricier homes ($28K more)
New Holland, PA 17557 91%1,484$82,491$286,500$194 larger
South Hill, VA 23970 91%1,522$65,170$205,000$142 cheaper homes ($63K less) · older residents
Le Mars, IA 51031 91%516$76,525$222,800$145 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Portage, WI 53901 91%764$74,092$227,700$177 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 91%496$76,138$272,400$161 larger
Belle Fourche, SD 57717 91%211$77,689$249,200$180 Very close on everything we compare
Catoosa, OK 74015 91%906$74,444$231,400$168 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Omak, WA 98841 91%710$71,809$274,000$163 6 min shorter commute
Jefferson City, TN 37760 90%1,324$66,190$238,200$184 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Tupelo, MS 38804 90%1,226$64,420$219,700$155 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Greencastle, IN 46135 90%1,025$73,677$225,600$143 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Riverview, MI 48193 90%1,088$74,566$220,600$169 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Reedsburg, WI 53959 90%742$77,924$255,300$176 larger
Hutchinson, MN 55350 90%505$79,123$255,500$159 larger
Cameron, MO 64429 90%740$68,708$206,600$164 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Purcell, OK 73080 90%944$72,500$230,900$156 cheaper homes ($37K less) · more single-family homes
Athens, TX 75751 90%1,158$70,620$209,400$156 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · younger residents
Douglas, WY 82633 90%347$82,412$296,700$168 pricier homes ($29K more)

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.