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 Sutton, NE 68979

Sutton: median income $85,862, home value $157,900, $169/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Frankfort, KS 66427 95%93$79,481$133,600— Very close on everything we compare
Sidney, IA 51652 94%117$82,200$134,800$165 Very close on everything we compare
Hankinson, ND 58041 94%380$85,368$162,900$203 Very close on everything we compare
Meade, KS 67864 93%265$75,929$135,700— Very close on everything we compare
Bird Island, MN 55310 92%324$87,292$160,500$113 Very close on everything we compare
Rosholt, SD 57260 92%369$82,656$170,000$216 Very close on everything we compare
Enderlin, ND 58027 92%415$75,774$159,500$129 Very close on everything we compare
Mansfield, IL 61854 92%492$86,705$165,600$148 6 min longer commute
Neoga, IL 62447 92%506$87,292$154,400$151 larger
Jordan, NY 13080 91%1,112$83,882$166,700$186 larger · 6 min longer commute
Odebolt, IA 51458 91%179$86,250$149,400— younger residents
Silver Bay, MN 55614 91%571$72,981$181,700$156 larger
Wessington Springs, SD 57382 91%243$79,375$164,900$146 older residents
Circle, MT 59215 91%608$86,000$216,000— pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
Hopedale, IL 61747 91%443$80,333$188,200$126 pricier homes ($30K more)
Almond, NY 14804 90%1,044$83,173$123,300$151 cheaper homes ($35K less)
New Berlin, PA 17855 90%1,090$88,929$216,700$151 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller · younger residents
Vienna, OH 44473 90%898$72,978$179,200$164 larger
Fertile, MN 56540 90%485$83,646$194,800$125 pricier homes ($37K more)
Nashua, MT 59248 90%667$89,821$216,000— pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
Glasgow, MO 65254 90%283$70,321$156,800$149 younger residents
Wathena, KS 66090 90%165$87,025$161,100$152 larger · newer homes
Panhandle, TX 79068 90%410$86,264$165,300$120 larger
Hartwick, NY 13348 89%1,183$80,245$170,400$151 younger residents
Frewsburg, NY 14738 89%975$80,103$150,800$192 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.