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 Chadron, NE 69337

Chadron: median income $54,306, home value $163,800, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Alva, OK 73717 89%475$51,165$142,400$62 more single-family homes
Canton, OH 44714 87%1,119$55,905$149,500$138 larger
South Bend, IN 46616 86%858$58,537$153,600$132 older homes
Shreveport, LA 71104 86%874$56,833$164,000$97 larger
Fredonia, NY 14063 85%1,199$57,937$183,500$146 larger · older residents
Clarion, PA 16214 85%1,213$57,521$171,600$107 more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Mayville, ND 58257 85%425$60,395$196,200$242 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Potsdam, NY 13676 84%1,398$56,170$160,200$147 larger
Hancock, MI 49930 84%764$72,314$214,000$143 pricier homes ($50K more)
Kalamazoo, MI 49001 83%887$56,432$157,300$137 larger · 6 min longer commute
Kirksville, MO 63501 83%568$60,729$168,200$114 larger · newer homes
Pittsburg, KS 66762 83%576$50,511$145,300$110 larger · newer homes
Wichita Falls, TX 76302 82%665$59,590$165,800$133 larger · newer homes
Great Falls, MT 59401 81%517$55,299$223,200$159 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · older residents
Kansas City, MO 64137 81%517$66,036$181,700$147 7 min longer commute
Mansfield, PA 16933 80%1,321$65,096$210,300$146 pricier homes ($47K more) · older residents
Macomb, IL 61455 80%656$48,679$120,100$70 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Topeka, KS 66611 80%463$55,837$156,600$122 larger · more walkable
Wichita Falls, TX 76309 80%662$54,159$143,400$117 larger · older residents
Abilene, TX 79605 80%739$62,929$163,600$143 larger
Sayre, PA 18840 79%1,346$59,214$171,300$136 larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Huntington, WV 25705 79%1,121$61,329$165,300$114 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Lamoni, IA 50140 79%491$57,443$121,900— cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · newer homes
Stevens Point, WI 54481 79%681$59,545$201,000$168 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Wagner, SD 57380 79%239$62,135$157,600$144 smaller · newer homes

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.