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.

Reset

Towns most like Sterling, KS 67579

Sterling: median income $65,294, home value $158,000, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Laurel, NE 68745 93%297$63,953$190,600— pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Farmington, IL 61531 90%468$70,107$127,700$112 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents
Chenoa, IL 61726 90%535$77,800$135,800$112 Very close on everything we compare
Minden, NE 68959 90%163$70,167$221,400$107 pricier homes ($63K more)
Pandora, OH 45877 89%781$68,665$179,200$145 older residents
Ellendale, ND 58436 86%539$69,286$164,100$110 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Texhoma, OK 73949 86%231$62,477$155,100$95 smaller · newer homes
Manson, IA 50563 85%355$71,094$161,100$335 older residents
Pearl City, IL 61062 85%522$66,667$196,900$93 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Camp Point, IL 62320 85%402$77,143$167,400$138 Very close on everything we compare
Thomas, OK 73669 85%173$69,821$151,100$67 smaller
Primghar, IA 51245 84%362$69,531$149,700$97 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Woodbine, IA 51579 84%277$72,500$204,400$121 pricier homes ($46K more)
Scotland, SD 57059 84%340$59,779$121,500$60 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Hooper, NE 68031 84%253$80,605$208,300$124 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller
Wisner, NE 68791 84%270$69,018$165,300$137 smaller · more renters
Spearman, TX 79081 84%216$68,542$147,700$71 older residents · newer homes
Millport, NY 14864 83%1,158$63,667$147,000$55 smaller · less walkable
Genoa, OH 43430 83%819$73,807$156,700$138 larger
Eveleth, MN 55734 83%700$62,703$158,700$101 larger · older residents
Freeman, SD 57029 83%358$73,750$179,700$107 older residents
Avon, SD 57315 83%334$73,750$169,600$157 smaller
Catlin, IL 61817 83%576$80,375$131,100$113 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older residents
Cherokee, OK 73728 83%101$67,417$118,600— cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · older residents
Gruver, TX 79040 83%221$84,583$156,400$122 smaller · 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.