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 Hays, MT 59527

Hays: median income $54,500, home value $80,800, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Harlem, MT 59526 91%38$63,869$85,200— larger
White Swan, WA 98952 90%576$50,417$102,300— Very close on everything we compare
White River, SD 57579 89%490$56,474$61,000— Very close on everything we compare
Dunseith, ND 58329 88%402$51,065$88,800— larger · 6 min longer commute
Lexa, AR 72355 88%1,307$55,307$97,600— older residents
Sierra Blanca, TX 79851 86%1,174$55,500$62,600— Very close on everything we compare
Bay, AR 72411 82%1,254$55,625$111,400$134 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Danville, AR 72833 81%1,190$52,422$121,900$127 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Arkoma, OK 74901 81%1,138$43,929$83,600$118 more walkable
Mc Laughlin, SD 57642 80%396$58,750$70,000— younger residents
Hart, TX 79043 80%999$57,956$60,200$102 older homes
Winterhaven, CA 92283 80%1,083$43,393$94,200— more walkable
Blue Mountain, MS 38610 79%1,367$51,675$92,900$66 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Pioneer, LA 71266 79%1,385$59,554$119,400$184 pricier homes ($39K more) · 5 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Pine Ridge, SD 57770 78%448$52,250$57,600— larger
Saint Michael, ND 58370 78%454$43,750$101,800— more homeowners
Essex, MO 63846 78%1,228$50,813$93,300$40 older residents · more walkable
Premont, TX 78375 78%1,535$47,941$91,900— larger · more walkable
Montezuma, GA 31063 77%1,682$52,381$111,900$41 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Busby, MT 59016 77%189$58,750$146,400— pricier homes ($66K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Satanta, KS 67870 77%827$58,125$115,400$52 pricier homes ($35K more) · more walkable
Mannsville, OK 73447 77%1,132$49,904$97,700$134 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Peach Springs, AZ 86434 77%894$58,080$103,700— younger residents · more walkable
Dawson, AL 35963 76%1,503$59,926$82,600$167 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Poplar, MT 59255 76%162$45,379$91,800— larger · younger residents · more walkable

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.