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 Humboldt, KS 66748

Humboldt: median income $59,871, home value $114,300, $55/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Buhl, MN 55713 92%683$59,036$129,300$49 smaller
Lockney, TX 79241 92%420$61,803$85,700$75 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Pocahontas, IA 50574 90%343$60,469$110,300$83 Very close on everything we compare
Wheaton, MN 56296 90%556$53,527$103,800$73 Very close on everything we compare
Edina, MO 63537 90%241$59,891$105,000$48 younger residents
Lenox, IA 50851 89%218$70,926$121,000— Very close on everything we compare
Plainview, NE 68769 89%338$61,833$122,500$52 smaller · more renters
Mangum, OK 73554 89%301$56,400$105,900$75 younger residents
Munday, TX 76371 89%382$61,335$84,700$50 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Lake City, IA 51449 88%311$75,329$115,800— Very close on everything we compare
Kimball, SD 57355 88%450$63,125$144,200— pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Mott, ND 58646 88%689$56,667$92,800$58 smaller
Falls City, NE 68355 88%157$56,607$108,800$58 larger
Superior, NE 68978 88%210$65,764$83,700$72 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older homes
Gordon, NE 69343 88%497$59,741$116,700— more renters
Shattuck, OK 73858 88%267$56,313$127,600$53 smaller · newer homes
Wellington, TX 79095 88%335$58,889$103,600$72 Very close on everything we compare
Bedford, IA 50833 87%201$61,042$112,900$69 6 min longer commute · more renters
Atkinson, IL 61235 87%380$61,932$132,800$67 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Watonga, OK 73772 87%214$58,591$116,900$72 more renters
Hale Center, TX 79041 87%444$61,832$101,000$79 Very close on everything we compare
Olton, TX 79064 87%451$59,698$89,500$71 more renters
Norwood, NY 13668 86%1,160$63,393$115,400$60 7 min longer commute
Gilmore City, IA 50541 86%343$56,364$95,500$64 smaller · younger residents
Wells, MN 56097 86%420$62,264$133,800$91 Very close on everything we compare

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.