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 Casper, WY 82604

Casper: median income $79,118, home value $288,900, $170/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Great Falls, MT 59404 96%403$83,867$295,700$199 Very close on everything we compare
Auburn, IN 46706 95%1,096$80,965$219,100$162 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Kaukauna, WI 54130 95%911$89,131$260,600$196 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Sterling Heights, MI 48310 94%1,181$78,058$274,700$160 larger
Owatonna, MN 55060 94%666$84,906$251,100$159 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Pueblo, CO 81005 94%330$70,574$298,500$166 Very close on everything we compare
Maryville, TN 37804 93%1,292$79,025$272,500$215 Very close on everything we compare
Columbia City, IN 46725 93%1,077$79,526$228,900$173 cheaper homes ($60K less)
York, PA 17406 92%1,548$83,521$234,100$162 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Colonial Heights, VA 23834 92%1,572$84,338$253,400$184 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Roanoke, VA 24019 92%1,444$77,870$260,800$161 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents
Ocala, FL 34480 92%1,647$77,557$282,700$184 newer homes
Columbus, IN 47203 92%1,094$72,112$244,100$147 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Brainerd, MN 56401 92%651$73,128$261,600$192 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Luling, LA 70070 92%1,256$76,539$273,800$172 smaller
Nederland, TX 77627 92%1,121$78,001$208,700$154 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Blackfoot, ID 83221 92%303$75,172$281,300$176 Very close on everything we compare
Chambersburg, PA 17202 91%1,497$96,318$278,700$167 Very close on everything we compare
Greencastle, PA 17225 91%1,494$88,457$304,100$171 Very close on everything we compare
Salem, VA 24153 91%1,437$74,260$266,500$157 more renters
Troy, OH 45373 91%1,162$75,742$253,400$168 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more renters
Muskegon, MI 49445 91%1,013$84,877$232,200$204 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Sheboygan, WI 53083 91%937$75,203$244,800$188 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Washington, MO 63090 91%856$85,025$273,600$189 older residents
Kansas City, MO 64119 91%667$83,929$229,700$159 cheaper homes ($59K less)

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.