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 Mankato, KS 66956

Mankato: median income $57,232, home value $59,100, $123/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tilton, IL 61833 90%560$48,584$69,200$101 Very close on everything we compare
Tarkio, MO 64491 89%157$57,500$91,300$126 pricier homes ($32K more) · 5 min longer commute
Knox City, TX 79529 89%449$50,694$63,400$112 younger residents
Scarbro, WV 25917 87%925$60,407$88,700$113 pricier homes ($30K more)
Yeagertown, PA 17099 86%1,088$62,250$66,400$117 more apartments and townhomes
Mount Gay, WV 25637 86%882$51,926$77,000— newer homes
Aspermont, TX 79502 86%473$52,333$44,100$106 newer homes
Franklin, NE 68939 84%45$54,083$90,000$110 pricier homes ($31K more) · older homes
Stephens, AR 71764 83%523$62,308$68,300— Very close on everything we compare
Emporium, PA 15834 82%1,051$50,609$87,400$89 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Appleton, MN 56208 82%391$59,766$102,800$114 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Arapahoe, NE 68922 82%96$57,426$107,900— pricier homes ($49K more)
White Hall, IL 62092 79%417$56,607$69,100$95 larger · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Kimball, NE 69145 79%303$58,846$112,400$92 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Charleston, WV 25315 78%900$55,083$90,200$98 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · younger residents
Bessemer, MI 49911 78%619$57,000$106,300$87 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · younger residents
Wakefield, MI 49968 78%622$55,759$91,800$97 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Hurley, WI 54534 78%612$53,468$123,600$121 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger
Madison, MN 56256 78%375$65,521$124,200$119 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger
Tyndall, SD 57066 78%222$56,389$112,000$119 pricier homes ($53K more) · more homeowners
Savanna, IL 61074 78%451$50,691$91,500$84 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Meredosia, IL 62665 78%408$46,528$65,800— 7 min longer commute · newer homes
East Millinocket, ME 04430 77%1,548$42,011$86,200$88 pricier homes ($27K more) · younger residents
Roulette, PA 16746 77%1,056$51,125$94,400$80 pricier homes ($35K more) · newer homes
Atkins, VA 24311 77%932$48,516$93,100$117 pricier homes ($34K more) · newer homes

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.