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 Laramie, WY 82070

Laramie: median income $69,095, home value $338,500, $216/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Moscow, ID 83843 91%664$59,444$380,600$257 pricier homes ($42K more)
Hershey, PA 17033 90%1,518$72,945$384,100$198 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents
Brookings, SD 57006 90%497$66,337$273,900$155 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Ames, IA 50010 89%630$65,398$253,500$190 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger
Eau Claire, WI 54701 89%757$74,361$289,900$184 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Marquette, MI 49855 88%976$62,083$263,300$224 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · older residents
Baton Rouge, LA 70808 88%1,117$69,418$409,900$213 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger
Plymouth, NH 03264 87%1,730$76,892$288,800$226 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Chattanooga, TN 37415 87%1,192$70,972$285,000$216 cheaper homes ($54K less) · older residents
Knoxville, TN 37923 87%1,228$73,699$333,000$213 older residents · 5 min longer commute
Iowa City, IA 52245 87%738$78,020$315,100$184 Very close on everything we compare
Buffalo, NY 14228 85%1,381$74,871$274,600$225 cheaper homes ($64K less) · 6 min longer commute
Athens, GA 30606 85%1,324$63,328$362,500$201 larger
Cedar Falls, IA 50613 85%689$78,503$270,800$159 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Huntsville, AL 35802 84%1,143$76,324$334,100$170 older residents
Knoxville, TN 37909 84%1,230$66,984$312,500$223 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older residents
Davenport, IA 52807 84%789$72,579$348,200$180 older residents
Lawrence, KS 66046 84%583$65,478$233,700$199 cheaper homes ($105K less) · 6 min longer commute
Bryan, TX 77802 84%912$70,666$254,500$170 cheaper homes ($84K less) · older residents
Bloomington, IN 47404 83%1,022$61,389$257,500$191 cheaper homes ($81K less) · more walkable
Lawrence, KS 66047 83%581$65,392$342,300$173 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Kearney, NE 68845 83%351$76,978$282,000$147 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Nacogdoches, TX 75965 83%913$55,291$244,500$151 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Logan, UT 84321 83%312$69,148$400,500$215 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · younger residents
Winston-Salem, NC 27103 82%1,417$67,012$241,700$182 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · older residents

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.