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 North Platte, NE 69101

North Platte: median income $62,268, home value $188,700, $149/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mitchell, SD 57301 96%226$65,620$208,200$155 Very close on everything we compare
Owensboro, KY 42303 94%766$64,773$198,200$157 larger
Sault Sainte Marie, MI 49783 94%898$60,658$158,800$156 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Marshfield, WI 54449 94%589$67,551$211,600$146 Very close on everything we compare
Hannibal, MO 63401 94%503$60,036$152,100$116 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Sidney, OH 45365 93%871$67,051$181,800$162 Very close on everything we compare
Lima, OH 45805 93%867$68,842$160,600$141 cheaper homes ($28K less) · younger residents
Washington, IN 47501 93%740$62,982$172,800$129 Very close on everything we compare
Wausau, WI 54401 93%618$71,586$196,700$165 Very close on everything we compare
Rice Lake, WI 54868 93%545$64,318$227,800$158 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Sikeston, MO 63801 93%668$62,698$156,700$121 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Tiffin, OH 44883 92%914$62,692$163,600$139 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Marietta, OH 45750 92%1,023$60,229$185,900$133 5 min longer commute
Waterloo, IA 50701 92%443$61,475$183,800$128 younger residents
Tomah, WI 54660 92%560$61,186$197,200$152 smaller
Sedalia, MO 65301 92%434$58,064$164,300$142 younger residents
Longview, TX 75601 92%682$65,700$210,500$146 smaller
Brownwood, TX 76801 92%654$54,231$150,400$142 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Meadville, PA 16335 91%1,067$57,591$161,600$133 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Beckley, WV 25801 91%1,067$56,836$158,900$112 cheaper homes ($30K less)
New Philadelphia, OH 44663 91%1,010$61,551$180,100$172 7 min longer commute
Canton, OH 44708 91%1,008$63,706$171,700$149 older homes
Kokomo, IN 46902 91%766$62,126$168,800$134 5 min longer commute
Spencer, IA 51301 91%320$63,402$188,300$122 smaller
Council Bluffs, IA 51501 91%255$59,843$152,400$156 cheaper homes ($36K less)

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.