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 Saint Marys, KS 66536

Saint Marys: median income $85,568, home value $224,600, $151/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Paul, ID 83347 90%954$79,643$296,700$204 pricier homes ($72K more)
Dalton, OH 44618 87%767$74,403$248,800$212 larger
Epworth, IA 52045 87%350$91,667$263,500$141 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · older residents
Mooreville, MS 38857 85%535$93,021$190,000$168 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents · newer homes
Coldwater, OH 45828 85%612$72,703$252,100$132 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · older residents
Farley, IA 52046 85%347$96,151$273,600$137 pricier homes ($49K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Morrisville, NY 13408 84%1,091$68,750$178,400$130 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Anna, OH 45302 84%634$91,602$242,300$178 older residents · more homeowners
Howe, IN 46746 84%583$73,244$160,800$187 cheaper homes ($64K less) · older residents
Arcadia, WI 54612 83%422$77,647$196,400$156 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents
Tolono, IL 61880 83%419$85,536$227,900$147 older residents
Woodburn, KY 42170 82%542$96,111$291,700$114 pricier homes ($67K more) · smaller · older residents
Rossville, IN 46065 82%509$80,104$216,300$133 older residents · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Volga, SD 57071 82%357$77,138$246,000— older residents
Delta, UT 84624 82%879$75,469$287,700$161 pricier homes ($63K more) · older residents
Fillmore, UT 84631 82%871$67,115$301,000$161 pricier homes ($76K more) · older residents
Berne, IN 46711 81%598$70,656$173,200$116 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Olivet, MI 49076 81%625$74,440$200,600$133 older residents · 8 min longer commute
Spring Arbor, MI 49283 81%638$108,464$218,400$172 older residents
Elkton, SD 57026 81%349$80,568$213,200$130 smaller · older residents
Dieterich, IL 62424 81%411$84,635$225,800$142 smaller · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Elm Creek, NE 68836 81%204$86,806$224,800$115 smaller · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Brusly, LA 70719 81%667$105,522$233,100$163 older residents · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Ball, LA 71405 81%576$76,318$179,400$139 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older residents
Thatcher, AZ 85552 81%880$88,454$290,900$194 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger · 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.