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 Plainview, NE 68769

Plainview: median income $61,833, home value $122,500, $52/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Scotland, SD 57059 95%54$59,779$121,500$60 Very close on everything we compare
Bedford, IA 50833 94%196$61,042$112,900$69 Very close on everything we compare
Ivanhoe, MN 56142 94%165$57,500$120,500$63 smaller
Lyons, KS 67554 93%278$64,125$107,900$60 larger
Cherokee, OK 73728 93%387$67,417$118,600— Very close on everything we compare
Lenox, IA 50851 92%194$70,926$121,000— Very close on everything we compare
Walnut Grove, MN 56180 92%173$67,689$131,600$47 younger residents
Harper, KS 67058 92%350$62,121$96,200$52 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Golden Meadow, LA 70357 92%989$71,383$132,900$45 Very close on everything we compare
Eddyville, IA 52553 91%278$64,583$150,000— pricier homes ($28K more)
Buhl, MN 55713 91%432$59,036$129,300$49 smaller
Edina, MO 63537 91%329$59,891$105,000$48 Very close on everything we compare
Fairfax, MO 64446 91%187$56,949$101,800— smaller
Shattuck, OK 73858 91%433$56,313$127,600$53 newer homes
Selby, SD 57472 90%244$61,708$120,200$68 Very close on everything we compare
Warsaw, IL 62379 90%357$62,200$103,200$56 Very close on everything we compare
Ellinwood, KS 67526 90%279$57,824$123,400$77 larger
Hoisington, KS 67544 90%272$57,568$104,000$74 larger
Laurens, IA 50554 89%153$63,802$82,800$68 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Fontanelle, IA 50846 89%182$74,200$108,800— 5 min longer commute
Bernie, MO 63822 89%571$57,639$127,900$54 larger · newer homes
Humboldt, KS 66748 89%338$59,871$114,300$55 larger · more homeowners
Oakley, KS 67748 89%276$78,083$137,100— larger
Geary, OK 73040 89%466$61,328$117,000$56 newer homes
Gilmore City, IA 50541 88%173$56,364$95,500$64 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller

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.