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 Sabetha, KS 66534

Sabetha: median income $73,050, home value $198,900, $87/sq ft, 11-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Forest City, IA 50436 96%259$74,940$167,900$96 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Flandreau, SD 57028 92%291$72,798$193,800$122 Very close on everything we compare
Lisbon, ND 58054 92%462$75,370$209,000$92 6 min longer commute
Martin, SD 57551 91%381$70,096$161,900— cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
York, NE 68467 91%115$70,525$194,600$104 larger
Milbank, SD 57252 89%369$70,479$183,000$92 older residents
Mobridge, SD 57601 89%455$66,003$154,600$91 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Alta, IA 51002 88%194$70,625$167,100$118 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Cherokee, IA 51012 88%197$69,531$151,400$83 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Rock Rapids, IA 51246 88%244$72,400$247,900$116 pricier homes ($49K more)
Windom, MN 56101 88%277$77,083$183,700$117 larger
Carrington, ND 58421 88%544$89,097$171,200$101 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Fairbury, IL 61739 88%389$76,555$164,400$112 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Sheldon, IA 51201 87%227$68,799$197,800$118 larger
Rothschild, WI 54474 87%467$81,635$193,600$147 Very close on everything we compare
Redwood Falls, MN 56283 87%323$66,352$176,800$118 larger · older residents
Platte, SD 57369 87%292$78,100$237,400— pricier homes ($39K more) · more single-family homes
Groton, SD 57445 87%401$84,948$193,800— smaller · 6 min longer commute
Broken Bow, NE 68822 87%226$67,500$154,600— cheaper homes ($44K less)
Holdrege, NE 68949 87%192$63,273$197,200$114 larger
Valentine, NE 69201 87%320$62,101$161,300$106 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Lakeview, OR 97630 87%1,285$69,531$221,000$96 larger · older residents
Humboldt, IA 50548 86%212$76,214$188,200$113 larger · 7 min longer commute
Mountain Lake, MN 56159 86%283$71,648$161,800$96 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Cavalier, ND 58220 86%622$61,199$183,200$125 older residents

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.