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 Big Sandy, MT 59520

Big Sandy: median income $62,109, home value $204,000, $130/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Raymond, MN 56282 96%737$69,896$201,400$110 Very close on everything we compare
Fosston, MN 56542 94%665$59,706$186,300$128 larger
Croghan, NY 13327 93%1,676$66,875$181,300$144 larger
Almena, WI 54805 93%874$59,643$189,100$128 Very close on everything we compare
Sloan, IA 51055 92%786$72,143$218,300$156 Very close on everything we compare
Sanborn, IA 51248 92%774$64,375$172,800$108 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Lockwood, MO 65682 92%1,101$53,590$164,300$143 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Mars Hill, ME 04758 91%1,955$65,156$162,200$120 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Weber City, VA 24290 91%1,602$60,923$175,800$113 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Hildebran, NC 28637 91%1,691$67,500$197,900$185 larger
Wabasso, MN 56293 91%752$67,396$170,500$103 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Alcester, SD 57001 91%740$69,531$177,400$166 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Steeleville, IL 62288 91%1,240$67,159$177,500$105 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Sutherland, NE 69165 91%652$75,795$211,800$105 Very close on everything we compare
Reynolds, IN 47980 90%1,247$60,962$171,500$122 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Eddyville, IA 52553 90%982$64,583$150,000— cheaper homes ($54K less)
Lakota, ND 58344 90%542$66,957$159,000$91 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Ponca, NE 68770 90%753$71,607$199,400$143 5 min longer commute
Tilden, NE 68781 90%730$67,212$171,700— cheaper homes ($32K less)
Seiling, OK 73663 90%1,007$61,103$166,800$143 cheaper homes ($37K less) · younger residents
Pine Level, NC 27568 89%1,838$66,071$230,800— pricier homes ($27K more)
Garnavillo, IA 52049 89%980$61,964$170,800$105 cheaper homes ($33K less) · more homeowners
Warren, MN 56762 89%612$62,933$160,100$102 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Kimball, SD 57355 89%614$63,125$144,200— cheaper homes ($60K less)
Burlington, KS 66839 89%993$63,077$175,500$119 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger

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.