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 Wheeler, TX 79096

Wheeler: median income $67,165, home value $160,600, $88/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Warren, MN 56762 95%904$62,933$160,100$102 Very close on everything we compare
Marceline, MO 64658 95%497$75,848$144,700$98 larger
Granite Falls, MN 56241 94%694$66,875$155,600$113 larger
Mountain Lake, MN 56159 93%652$71,648$161,800$96 older homes
Parkston, SD 57366 93%564$78,155$184,600$104 Very close on everything we compare
Stanberry, MO 64489 93%455$54,519$167,900$85 Very close on everything we compare
Ellsworth, KS 67439 93%254$73,409$158,300— larger
Neligh, NE 68756 93%479$61,667$158,300$89 Very close on everything we compare
Ord, NE 68862 93%432$60,321$163,100— Very close on everything we compare
Mobridge, SD 57601 92%699$66,003$154,600$91 larger
Hoxie, KS 67740 92%270$75,417$186,600— pricier homes ($26K more)
Central City, NE 68826 92%412$74,583$172,100$116 larger
Imperial, NE 69033 92%360$67,135$171,300— older residents
Ada, MN 56510 91%843$70,000$145,700$82 older homes
Freeman, SD 57029 91%568$73,750$179,700$107 older homes
Steeleville, IL 62288 91%612$67,159$177,500$105 Very close on everything we compare
Hugoton, KS 67951 91%134$63,527$131,500$103 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Rangely, CO 81648 91%566$71,705$199,300$117 pricier homes ($39K more)
Hawarden, IA 51023 90%561$80,357$173,300$99 larger
Abbotsford, WI 54405 90%841$69,659$177,900$112 Very close on everything we compare
Slayton, MN 56172 90%637$71,875$187,300$96 pricier homes ($27K more)
Martin, SD 57551 90%541$70,096$161,900— Very close on everything we compare
Lakota, ND 58344 90%872$66,957$159,000$91 smaller
Bowman, ND 58623 90%760$64,487$180,700$89 older residents
Sutherland, NE 69165 90%398$75,795$211,800$105 pricier homes ($51K more)

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.