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 Cimarron, KS 67835

Cimarron: median income $79,877, home value $215,900, $117/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Elkton, SD 57026 92%487$80,568$213,200$130 smaller
Washburn, ND 58577 92%657$74,471$260,100$145 pricier homes ($44K more)
Elm Creek, NE 68836 92%208$86,806$224,800$115 Very close on everything we compare
Coldwater, OH 45828 91%860$72,703$252,100$132 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
David City, NE 68632 91%293$70,242$176,400$143 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Farley, IA 52046 90%587$96,151$273,600$137 pricier homes ($58K more)
Volga, SD 57071 90%484$77,138$246,000— pricier homes ($30K more)
Tolono, IL 61880 90%666$85,536$227,900$147 larger
Milford, NE 68405 90%269$75,250$244,600$153 pricier homes ($29K more)
Gibbon, NE 68840 90%218$76,394$208,100$91 older residents
Flandreau, SD 57028 89%474$72,798$193,800$122 older residents
Groton, SD 57445 89%540$84,948$193,800— older residents
Fairbury, IL 61739 89%664$76,555$164,400$112 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · older homes
Epworth, IA 52045 88%591$91,667$263,500$141 pricier homes ($48K more) · more homeowners
Rothschild, WI 54474 88%739$81,635$193,600$147 larger · older residents
Gruver, TX 79040 88%121$84,583$156,400$122 cheaper homes ($60K less) · more homeowners
Abernathy, TX 79311 88%287$81,985$176,800$131 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents
Farwell, TX 79325 88%279$71,771$163,400— cheaper homes ($53K less)
Hawarden, IA 51023 87%412$80,357$173,300$99 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Woodbine, IA 51579 87%366$72,500$204,400$121 older homes
Fennimore, WI 53809 87%622$65,568$192,500$127 larger
Plankinton, SD 57368 87%421$74,688$202,700$134 smaller · older residents
Northwood, ND 58267 87%701$88,015$217,800$161 smaller · older homes
Velva, ND 58790 87%709$83,233$224,600$108 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Weeping Water, NE 68463 87%308$85,972$199,500$128 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.