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 Seneca, KS 66538

Seneca: median income $78,981, home value $299,300, $111/sq ft, 11-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Platte, SD 57369 90%289$78,100$237,400— cheaper homes ($62K less) · younger residents
Rock Rapids, IA 51246 89%247$72,400$247,900$116 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Dyersville, IA 52040 89%314$84,761$242,300$126 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Aurora, NE 68818 87%126$81,045$263,900$123 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Hines, OR 97738 87%1,212$89,071$294,200— smaller · older homes
Chamberlain, SD 57325 86%321$80,139$230,300$157 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Glasgow, MT 59230 86%779$85,000$241,000— cheaper homes ($58K less) · older homes
Teutopolis, IL 62467 86%406$96,406$232,800$128 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Carrington, ND 58421 85%545$89,097$171,200$101 cheaper homes ($128K less)
Atkinson, NE 68713 85%241$77,500$195,000— cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller
Ferdinand, IN 47532 84%504$84,750$236,200$107 cheaper homes ($63K less) · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Roseau, MN 56751 84%612$77,279$196,300$108 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger
De Smet, SD 57231 84%323$78,646$212,200$125 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller · older homes
Burlington, CO 80807 84%334$76,583$251,900$123 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Coldwater, OH 45828 83%602$72,703$252,100$132 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · younger residents
Minster, OH 45865 83%617$89,000$286,300$177 larger · 6 min longer commute
New Hampton, IA 50659 83%294$78,153$206,900$122 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · older homes
Palmyra, MO 63461 83%239$69,707$212,000$124 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Lavalette, WV 25535 82%736$72,446$216,700$105 cheaper homes ($83K less) · 10 min longer commute
Hull, IA 51239 82%231$77,540$236,500$161 cheaper homes ($63K less) · younger residents
Bellevue, IA 52031 82%336$86,674$244,600$152 cheaper homes ($55K less) · 8 min longer commute
Cuba City, WI 53807 82%346$77,887$225,500$158 cheaper homes ($74K less) · 9 min longer commute
Windom, MN 56101 82%283$77,083$183,700$117 cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger · older homes
Arlington, NE 68002 82%111$93,220$299,700$130 9 min longer commute
Hartington, NE 68739 82%203$90,500$218,400$152 cheaper homes ($81K less)

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.