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 Lander, WY 82520

Lander: median income $76,959, home value $337,700, $236/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pella, IA 50219 94%808$86,807$301,400$239 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Swannanoa, NC 28778 93%1,481$73,408$303,300$256 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 93%679$70,037$314,700$217 older residents
Grangeville, ID 83530 92%425$79,477$324,000$269 smaller
Saint Peter, MN 56082 91%736$71,456$275,200$169 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Perham, MN 56573 91%686$68,770$286,500$183 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Sheboygan, WI 53083 90%1,045$75,203$244,800$188 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger
Mankato, MN 56003 90%730$82,538$270,400$162 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Grand Junction, CO 81503 90%269$75,053$352,100$274 Very close on everything we compare
Homer, AK 99603 90%2,120$78,767$373,500$310 pricier homes ($36K more) · newer homes
Bridgewater, VA 22812 89%1,574$85,941$366,900$206 pricier homes ($29K more) · younger residents
Birmingham, AL 35210 89%1,349$73,061$255,800$191 cheaper homes ($82K less) · 6 min longer commute
Spirit Lake, IA 51360 89%679$75,882$271,700$253 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · older residents
Decorah, IA 52101 89%846$73,484$273,200$172 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Great Falls, MT 59404 89%344$83,867$295,700$199 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Lewiston, ID 83501 89%471$73,629$340,600$224 larger
Clarkston, WA 99403 89%480$71,482$325,300$216 larger · older residents
Lexington, VA 24450 88%1,566$76,587$305,100$225 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 6 min longer commute
Portage, MI 49002 88%1,169$73,647$246,400$174 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Grand Haven, MI 49417 88%1,129$83,405$316,300$248 larger · 5 min longer commute
Traverse City, MI 49685 88%1,150$84,590$358,500$261 larger · newer homes
Alexandria, MN 56308 88%682$78,177$341,900$194 larger · older residents
Lewisburg, PA 17837 87%1,624$88,975$288,100$170 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Petoskey, MI 49770 87%1,182$79,590$355,200$275 older residents
Duluth, MN 55811 87%845$79,804$321,000$228 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.