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 Minden, NE 68959

Minden: median income $70,167, home value $221,400, $107/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ellis, KS 67637 92%112$74,281$158,700$92 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Osage, IA 50461 91%369$68,886$180,400$134 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Lancaster, WI 53813 91%454$84,004$220,400$118 larger
Halstead, KS 67056 91%189$78,958$169,200$111 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Woodbine, IA 51579 90%189$72,500$204,400$121 smaller
Slayton, MN 56172 90%290$71,875$187,300$96 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older residents
Freeman, SD 57029 90%211$73,750$179,700$107 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Sterling, KS 67579 90%163$65,294$158,000— cheaper homes ($63K less)
Abernathy, TX 79311 90%487$81,985$176,800$131 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Akron, CO 80720 90%227$65,913$219,100$96 smaller · older residents
Catawissa, PA 17820 89%1,175$67,685$214,800$113 older residents
Pandora, OH 45877 89%784$68,665$179,200$145 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Humboldt, IA 50548 89%288$76,214$188,200$113 cheaper homes ($33K less)
New Hampton, IA 50659 89%384$78,153$206,900$122 Very close on everything we compare
Eveleth, MN 55734 89%575$62,703$158,700$101 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Parkston, SD 57366 89%206$78,155$184,600$104 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Chinook, MT 59523 89%752$73,906$218,300— smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Clay Center, KS 67432 89%123$70,275$153,900$96 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Ritzville, WA 99169 89%1,069$66,061$228,400$103 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Cresco, IA 52136 88%402$70,778$161,100$113 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Pearl City, IL 61062 88%487$66,667$196,900$93 smaller
Palmyra, MO 63461 88%394$69,707$212,000$124 newer homes
Albany, TX 76430 88%539$77,102$202,400$145 smaller
Jermyn, PA 18433 87%1,215$75,000$213,900$147 larger · older residents
South Charleston, WV 25303 87%930$75,872$173,200$121 cheaper homes ($48K less) · 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.