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 Hoisington, KS 67544

Hoisington: median income $57,568, home value $104,000, $74/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Falls City, NE 68355 94%202$56,607$108,800$58 larger
Westville, IL 61883 93%604$56,169$101,400$93 Very close on everything we compare
Gordon, NE 69343 93%349$59,741$116,700— Very close on everything we compare
Wellington, TX 79095 93%262$58,889$103,600$72 5 min shorter commute
Scotland, SD 57059 92%325$59,779$121,500$60 smaller
Eagle Grove, IA 50533 91%385$65,595$110,200$76 younger residents
Frederick, OK 73542 91%282$49,734$96,300$81 Very close on everything we compare
Cherokee, OK 73728 91%121$67,417$118,600— smaller
Stratford, TX 79084 91%231$54,808$134,800$77 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Mullens, WV 25882 90%946$57,500$78,400$85 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Hoopeston, IL 60942 90%607$61,083$92,000$79 larger · older homes
Plainview, NE 68769 90%272$61,833$122,500$52 smaller
New Castle, PA 16102 89%989$56,053$104,900$84 larger · older residents
Belle, WV 25015 89%934$56,681$98,100$63 Very close on everything we compare
Bedford, IA 50833 89%262$61,042$112,900$69 older residents
Holstein, IA 51025 89%324$65,543$119,200$79 smaller
Ballinger, TX 76821 89%470$63,380$112,900$94 larger
Pocahontas, IA 50574 88%363$60,469$110,300$83 older residents
Springfield, MN 56087 88%443$64,375$142,600$92 pricier homes ($39K more) · older residents
Culbertson, NE 69024 88%164$52,337$106,900— smaller
Northern Cambria, PA 15714 87%1,072$52,500$102,500$92 larger
Kane, PA 16735 87%1,075$57,489$93,900$89 larger · older residents
Eldora, IA 50627 87%400$74,536$131,600$70 pricier homes ($28K more)
Ivanhoe, MN 56142 87%433$57,500$120,500$63 smaller · older residents
Monmouth, IL 61462 87%463$64,113$102,900$92 larger

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.