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 Mcpherson, KS 67460

Mcpherson: median income $80,720, home value $220,500, $113/sq ft, 12-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Marshall, MN 56258 93%431$72,731$219,600$119 Very close on everything we compare
Waverly, IA 50677 91%411$85,633$232,800$141 6 min longer commute
Pierre, SD 57501 91%436$81,791$245,100$152 Very close on everything we compare
Effingham, IL 62401 91%493$82,374$217,500$140 Very close on everything we compare
Enid, OK 73703 91%137$73,333$196,300$130 larger
Bartlesville, OK 74006 91%148$71,796$200,100$118 larger · 5 min longer commute
Grinnell, IA 50112 90%349$67,078$214,900$136 Very close on everything we compare
Mankato, MN 56003 90%444$82,538$270,400$162 pricier homes ($50K more)
Jasper, IN 47546 89%582$73,659$252,800$136 pricier homes ($32K more)
Yankton, SD 57078 89%312$71,268$233,900$151 older residents
York, NE 68467 89%172$70,525$194,600$104 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Kearney, NE 68847 89%178$73,818$238,400$143 Very close on everything we compare
Texarkana, TX 75503 89%394$72,159$229,800$148 larger
Wichita Falls, TX 76310 89%316$82,183$224,600$153 6 min longer commute
Madison, SD 57042 88%390$71,868$228,200$155 smaller · older residents
Fort Smith, AR 72908 88%278$72,732$197,000$132 Very close on everything we compare
Lewisburg, PA 17837 87%1,116$88,975$288,100$170 pricier homes ($68K more)
Forest City, IA 50436 87%398$74,940$167,900$96 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Saint Peter, MN 56082 87%454$71,456$275,200$169 pricier homes ($55K more)
Painted Post, NY 14870 86%1,112$84,476$177,500$128 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Orange City, IA 51041 86%332$83,643$277,000$141 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller · younger residents
Wausau, WI 54401 86%613$71,586$196,700$165 larger
Rothschild, WI 54474 86%612$81,635$193,600$147 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
New Ulm, MN 56073 86%442$70,250$218,700$140 Very close on everything we compare
Thief River Falls, MN 56701 86%677$78,599$196,000$129 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.