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 Kearney, NE 68845

Kearney: median income $76,978, home value $282,000, $147/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Eau Claire, WI 54701 93%477$74,361$289,900$184 larger
Rochester, MN 55904 93%411$77,016$253,600$186 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Minot, ND 58703 93%535$82,728$263,200$143 Very close on everything we compare
Texarkana, TX 75503 93%575$72,159$229,800$148 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Beaumont, TX 77706 93%787$73,185$244,800$124 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Plover, WI 54467 92%550$87,580$268,600$168 Very close on everything we compare
Dickinson, ND 58601 92%456$85,821$278,800$164 Very close on everything we compare
Alexandria, LA 71303 92%750$67,156$244,200$143 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Bryan, TX 77802 92%715$70,666$254,500$170 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Abilene, TX 79606 92%579$79,196$272,600$192 Very close on everything we compare
Casper, WY 82609 92%395$71,010$293,900$169 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, MS 39705 91%768$68,487$231,800$145 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
San Angelo, TX 76904 91%649$81,833$285,400$176 larger · 5 min longer commute
Menomonie, WI 54751 90%463$72,028$253,000$168 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 5 min longer commute
Mankato, MN 56003 90%351$82,538$270,400$162 more homeowners
Marshall, MN 56258 90%307$72,731$219,600$119 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Pierre, SD 57501 90%257$81,791$245,100$152 cheaper homes ($37K less) · more homeowners
Lewisburg, PA 17837 89%1,158$88,975$288,100$170 older homes
Dalton, GA 30720 89%875$69,369$249,800$146 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Saint Peter, MN 56082 89%360$71,456$275,200$169 Very close on everything we compare
Wichita Falls, TX 76308 89%477$74,772$213,500$131 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Ridgecrest, CA 93555 89%1,065$86,700$252,900$184 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Christiansburg, VA 24073 88%1,034$76,800$253,200$190 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
Radford, VA 24141 88%1,027$62,969$236,400$163 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 5 min longer commute
Cedar Falls, IA 50613 88%366$78,503$270,800$159 larger

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.