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 Atkinson, NE 68713

Atkinson: median income $77,500, home value $195,000, 13-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hoxie, KS 67740 96%236$75,417$186,600— Very close on everything we compare
Platte, SD 57369 93%61$78,100$237,400— pricier homes ($42K more)
Chinook, MT 59523 92%647$73,906$218,300— older homes
Kalida, OH 45853 90%768$87,500$196,100— 5 min longer commute
Oakes, ND 58474 90%249$72,969$160,700$342 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Parkston, SD 57366 89%78$78,155$184,600$104 Very close on everything we compare
Mobridge, SD 57601 89%219$66,003$154,600$91 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Victoria, KS 67671 89%255$77,702$181,900$176 Very close on everything we compare
Flandreau, SD 57028 88%158$72,798$193,800$122 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Chamberlain, SD 57325 88%88$80,139$230,300$157 pricier homes ($35K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Martin, SD 57551 88%146$70,096$161,900— cheaper homes ($33K less)
Carrington, ND 58421 88%339$89,097$171,200$101 Very close on everything we compare
Hillsboro, KS 67063 88%305$72,083$155,500$84 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Hawarden, IA 51023 87%131$80,357$173,300$99 larger
Windom, MN 56101 87%214$77,083$183,700$117 larger
Mountain Lake, MN 56159 87%225$71,648$161,800$96 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Ipswich, SD 57451 87%200$86,000$195,700$122 7 min longer commute
Hillsboro, ND 58045 87%347$86,484$211,800$163 Very close on everything we compare
Ellendale, ND 58436 87%240$69,286$164,100$110 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Ellis, KS 67637 87%250$74,281$158,700$92 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 7 min longer commute
Gothenburg, NE 69138 87%127$77,604$199,300$105 larger
Freeman, SD 57029 86%95$73,750$179,700$107 older homes
Groton, SD 57445 86%205$84,948$193,800— more apartments and townhomes
Scott City, KS 67871 86%299$68,339$160,500$160 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · older homes
Milford, UT 84751 86%791$81,908$247,100$182 pricier homes ($52K more) · younger residents · 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.