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 68847

Kearney: median income $73,818, home value $238,400, $143/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pierre, SD 57501 96%260$81,791$245,100$152 Very close on everything we compare
Casper, WY 82609 96%399$71,010$293,900$169 pricier homes ($56K more)
Saint Peter, MN 56082 95%360$71,456$275,200$169 pricier homes ($37K more)
Willmar, MN 56201 95%367$68,804$216,300$132 Very close on everything we compare
Marshall, MN 56258 95%308$72,731$219,600$119 Very close on everything we compare
Yankton, SD 57078 95%173$71,268$233,900$151 older residents
Texarkana, TX 75503 95%571$72,159$229,800$148 Very close on everything we compare
Mankato, MN 56003 94%351$82,538$270,400$162 pricier homes ($32K more)
Mandan, ND 58554 94%432$80,120$277,900$165 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Saint Joseph, MO 64506 94%234$65,573$240,300$150 Very close on everything we compare
Paducah, KY 42001 93%614$71,365$215,300$143 larger · older residents
Saint Cloud, MN 56303 93%416$65,198$205,200$145 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 93%419$76,138$272,400$161 pricier homes ($34K more)
Watertown, SD 57201 93%306$72,878$242,700$144 Very close on everything we compare
Wichita, KS 67209 93%228$77,940$224,100$124 Very close on everything we compare
South Bend, IN 46637 92%670$71,462$207,100$154 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Jasper, IN 47546 92%667$73,659$252,800$136 Very close on everything we compare
Wausau, WI 54401 92%558$71,586$196,700$165 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Rochester, MN 55904 92%410$77,016$253,600$186 larger
Jefferson City, MO 65101 92%398$74,807$243,600$142 larger
Fort Smith, AR 72908 92%451$72,732$197,000$132 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Enid, OK 73703 92%305$73,333$196,300$130 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Goshen, IN 46526 91%690$67,461$204,200$159 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Davenport, IA 52806 91%445$74,297$190,400$162 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Sheboygan, WI 53083 91%616$75,203$244,800$188 Very close on everything we compare

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.