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 82609

Casper: median income $71,010, home value $293,900, $169/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kearney, NE 68847 96%399$73,818$238,400$143 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Saint Joseph, MO 64506 95%631$65,573$240,300$150 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Saint Peter, MN 56082 94%624$71,456$275,200$169 Very close on everything we compare
Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 94%629$76,138$272,400$161 Very close on everything we compare
Ocala, FL 34471 93%1,638$65,789$317,900$169 larger
Sioux Falls, SD 57103 93%485$72,831$269,500$173 larger
Mandan, ND 58554 93%381$80,120$277,900$165 larger
Omaha, NE 68137 93%533$80,739$252,200$160 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Christiansburg, VA 24073 92%1,418$76,800$253,200$190 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Chattanooga, TN 37416 92%1,249$70,705$253,100$193 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Lafayette, IN 47905 92%1,015$65,861$235,600$176 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Comstock Park, MI 49321 92%1,039$77,870$274,400$203 Very close on everything we compare
Rochester, MN 55904 92%701$77,016$253,600$186 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Bismarck, ND 58501 92%384$68,755$279,700$161 larger · older homes
Kearney, NE 68845 92%395$76,978$282,000$147 Very close on everything we compare
Metairie, LA 70006 92%1,255$76,505$344,800$167 pricier homes ($51K more) · 6 min longer commute
Texarkana, TX 75503 92%925$72,159$229,800$148 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Brenham, TX 77833 92%1,031$73,388$280,500$172 larger
Erie, PA 16509 91%1,332$68,846$220,500$169 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger
Grand Rapids, MI 49534 91%1,036$81,657$306,700$207 Very close on everything we compare
Eau Claire, WI 54703 91%748$71,518$243,700$178 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Appleton, WI 54914 91%897$79,875$237,400$180 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Saint Cloud, MN 56303 91%626$65,198$205,200$145 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Yankton, SD 57078 91%450$71,268$233,900$151 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Pierre, SD 57501 91%316$81,791$245,100$152 cheaper homes ($49K 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.