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 Scott City, KS 67871

Scott City: median income $68,339, home value $160,500, $160/sq ft, 11-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Broken Bow, NE 68822 92%213$67,500$154,600— Very close on everything we compare
Ord, NE 68862 92%239$60,321$163,100— smaller
Pipestone, MN 56164 91%450$74,201$149,800$146 Very close on everything we compare
Martin, SD 57551 91%327$70,096$161,900— smaller
Grant, NE 69140 91%169$70,417$160,800— smaller
Mc Cook, NE 69001 90%120$62,982$164,400$218 larger
Windom, MN 56101 89%479$77,083$183,700$117 Very close on everything we compare
Osage, IA 50461 88%537$68,886$180,400$134 6 min longer commute
Greenfield, IA 50849 88%394$64,821$148,600$143 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Harlan, IA 51537 88%368$65,000$166,800$108 Very close on everything we compare
Chinook, MT 59523 88%811$73,906$218,300— pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
Atlantic, IA 50022 87%372$63,125$157,600$104 larger
Tuscola, IL 61953 87%682$78,214$164,400$138 7 min longer commute
Lovell, WY 82431 87%585$60,295$221,300$169 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller
Archbold, OH 43502 86%902$74,925$203,300$177 pricier homes ($43K more)
Kingsford, MI 49802 86%828$62,209$126,500$116 cheaper homes ($34K less)
New Hampton, IA 50659 86%549$78,153$206,900$122 pricier homes ($46K more)
Onawa, IA 51040 86%353$71,179$151,600$150 7 min longer commute
Sibley, IA 51249 86%434$61,500$160,700$117 5 min longer commute
Manchester, IA 52057 86%568$69,635$184,300$142 larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Fairbury, IL 61739 86%677$76,555$164,400$112 5 min longer commute
Saint Joseph, MO 64505 86%337$73,298$191,100$132 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Atkinson, NE 68713 86%299$77,500$195,000— pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · newer homes
West Point, NE 68788 86%320$69,867$211,700$115 pricier homes ($51K more) · 5 min longer commute
Wisner, NE 68791 86%321$69,018$165,300$137 smaller · 7 min longer commute

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.