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 82072

Laramie: median income $53,863, home value $324,100, $200/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Storrs Mansfield, CT 06268 92%1,706$55,219$348,600$220 6 min longer commute
Orono, ME 04473 90%1,852$61,528$272,600$198 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Moscow, ID 83843 90%678$59,444$380,600$257 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
Clemson, SC 29631 88%1,313$48,800$400,400$214 pricier homes ($76K more)
Pullman, WA 99163 88%686$48,231$435,900$228 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger
Athens, GA 30605 87%1,311$50,062$314,200$203 larger · 6 min longer commute
Morgantown, WV 26505 86%1,342$45,536$278,000$170 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Vermillion, SD 57069 86%448$53,327$231,200$142 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Bloomington, IN 47408 85%1,011$45,644$346,900$188 more walkable
Ames, IA 50010 85%613$65,398$253,500$190 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · more homeowners
Iowa City, IA 52240 85%722$52,960$242,300$181 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger
Stillwater, OK 74075 85%582$46,053$228,100$161 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger
Bowling Green, OH 43402 84%1,128$52,426$243,100$166 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger
Houghton, MI 49931 84%922$50,408$232,800$162 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller
Lawrence, KS 66044 84%566$55,955$235,000$199 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger
Ames, IA 50014 83%609$60,731$336,800$211 larger · newer homes
Columbia, MO 65201 83%716$48,113$248,400$184 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger
Manhattan, KS 66502 83%493$54,833$223,100$153 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger
Iowa City, IA 52246 82%719$62,521$348,900$176 Very close on everything we compare
Lawrence, KS 66047 82%565$65,392$342,300$173 older residents · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Stillwater, OK 74074 82%583$52,998$258,700$164 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Brookings, SD 57006 81%483$66,337$273,900$155 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Oxford, OH 45056 80%1,095$49,233$250,700$188 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · more walkable
Boone, NC 28607 79%1,327$46,639$378,600$314 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger
Athens, OH 45701 79%1,235$53,075$227,400$153 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · more walkable

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.