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 Plains, KS 67869

Plains: median income $72,760, home value $155,200, $34/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Farwell, TX 79325 91%241$71,771$163,400— larger
Willow Lake, SD 57278 86%530$70,208$220,400— pricier homes ($65K more)
Pantego, NC 27860 84%1,328$62,083$145,300— 6 min longer commute
Martin, SD 57551 84%412$70,096$161,900— larger · older residents
Curtiss, WI 54422 83%747$71,667$156,300— younger residents
Murdock, MN 56271 83%611$64,861$222,700— pricier homes ($68K more) · 6 min longer commute
Goodwell, OK 73939 82%75$72,813$163,900— 6 min longer commute
Bonaparte, IA 52620 81%528$79,327$227,500$50 pricier homes ($72K more) · 8 min longer commute
Walnut Grove, MN 56180 81%549$67,689$131,600$47 older residents · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Boyden, IA 51234 79%476$84,318$211,800— pricier homes ($57K more) · more homeowners
Memphis, MO 63555 79%502$67,426$170,600$60 larger · older residents
Garber, OK 73738 79%175$79,643$115,000— cheaper homes ($40K less) · more homeowners
Belle Rive, IL 62810 78%649$57,969$117,700— cheaper homes ($38K less) · 7 min longer commute
Beaver, OK 73932 78%30$58,155$155,600$61 older residents
Lenox, IA 50851 77%408$70,926$121,000— cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · older residents
Platte, SD 57369 77%434$78,100$237,400— pricier homes ($82K more) · larger · older residents
Harrah, WA 98933 77%1,203$75,972$241,400— pricier homes ($86K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Claridge, PA 15623 76%1,145$57,335$251,500— pricier homes ($96K more)
Holland, IN 47541 76%742$78,409$156,800— older residents · 8 min longer commute
Groton, SD 57445 76%579$84,948$193,800— pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · older residents
Nichols, NY 13812 75%1,325$82,679$143,800$49 larger · older residents · 7 min longer commute
West Bend, IA 50597 75%509$92,000$179,700— older residents · more homeowners
Elgin, NE 68636 75%351$78,056$113,800— cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Broadus, MT 59317 74%603$71,250$197,400— pricier homes ($42K more) · older residents
Clarkson, NE 68629 74%357$78,438$132,800— older residents · more homeowners · older 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.