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 Culbertson, NE 69024

Culbertson: median income $52,337, home value $106,900, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gregory, SD 57533 93%220$58,500$122,400$227 larger
Mott, ND 58646 92%431$56,667$92,800$58 Very close on everything we compare
Plainview, NE 68769 92%217$61,833$122,500$52 larger
Bridgeport, NE 69336 92%153$53,051$111,100$172 larger
Elkton, MI 48731 91%939$53,021$115,500$106 Very close on everything we compare
Scotland, SD 57059 91%257$59,779$121,500$60 Very close on everything we compare
La Crosse, KS 67548 91%143$55,313$85,000$97 older residents
Wakefield, NE 68784 91%250$62,216$144,900$145 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Gordon, NE 69343 91%192$59,741$116,700— larger
Ivanhoe, MN 56142 90%375$57,500$120,500$63 Very close on everything we compare
Westbrook, MN 56183 90%384$45,536$138,400$109 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents
Rushville, NE 69360 90%193$52,402$116,000— older residents
Falls Creek, PA 15840 89%1,153$57,344$123,100$123 larger
Gilmore City, IA 50541 89%375$56,364$95,500$64 more homeowners
Harper, KS 67058 89%254$62,121$96,200$52 larger
Wellington, TX 79095 89%371$58,889$103,600$72 larger
Memphis, TX 79245 89%381$48,403$78,900$48 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Lake Andes, SD 57356 88%235$54,107$113,900$126 larger · newer homes
Brunswick, MO 65236 88%414$46,806$98,800$62 Very close on everything we compare
Cottonwood Falls, KS 66845 88%264$51,771$89,700$106 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Ellinwood, KS 67526 88%177$57,824$123,400$77 larger
Hoisington, KS 67544 88%164$57,568$104,000$74 larger
Audubon, IA 50025 87%326$52,438$118,100$97 larger · older residents
Pocahontas, IA 50574 87%363$60,469$110,300$83 larger · older residents
Bedford, IA 50833 87%323$61,042$112,900$69 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.