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 Gillette, WY 82718

Gillette: median income $104,458, home value $309,000, $174/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Burlington, KY 41005 94%1,124$112,083$271,600$183 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Marysville, OH 43040 92%1,162$99,321$311,100$189 Very close on everything we compare
Monticello, MN 55362 92%585$91,832$350,200$196 pricier homes ($41K more) · 5 min longer commute
Gardner, KS 66030 92%654$97,822$313,100$200 Very close on everything we compare
Midland, TX 79706 92%854$108,059$316,400$181 Very close on everything we compare
Amarillo, TX 79118 91%643$87,810$234,500$163 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Lakeland, FL 33811 90%1,705$90,263$333,200$190 6 min longer commute
Walton, KY 41094 90%1,135$96,515$293,700$185 smaller
New Richmond, WI 54017 90%646$98,571$321,700$211 5 min longer commute
Holmen, WI 54636 90%710$96,384$321,500$182 smaller · older residents
Bourbonnais, IL 60914 90%918$86,223$255,300$175 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Grain Valley, MO 64029 90%677$91,704$309,300$186 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, KS 66109 90%647$102,593$273,600$174 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Belle Chasse, LA 70037 90%1,294$98,983$385,200$191 pricier homes ($76K more) · smaller
Whitehouse, TX 75791 90%983$92,107$267,000$173 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460 89%1,630$88,908$343,600$203 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Lowell, AR 72745 89%802$91,207$281,800$212 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Pasadena, TX 77505 89%1,140$98,125$294,800$155 Very close on everything we compare
North Pole, AK 99705 89%2,148$96,964$309,500$235 older homes
Harrison, OH 45030 88%1,117$98,598$241,200$177 cheaper homes ($68K less) · older residents
Plainfield, IN 46168 88%1,026$90,000$297,200$159 more renters
Flat Rock, MI 48134 88%1,129$92,076$276,100$183 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents
Norwalk, IA 50211 88%626$103,712$316,100$231 smaller
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327 88%631$98,333$314,400$215 smaller · older residents
Broussard, LA 70518 88%1,210$106,710$297,900$154 smaller · more single-family homes

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.