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 Buffalo, WY 82834

Buffalo: median income $63,395, home value $328,700, $222/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Spirit Lake, IA 51360 93%580$75,882$271,700$253 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 92%552$70,037$314,700$217 larger
Clayton, GA 30525 91%1,395$65,150$274,200$258 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Swannanoa, NC 28778 90%1,414$73,408$303,300$256 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · younger residents
Milford, IA 51351 90%579$73,824$273,100$184 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Hayward, WI 54843 90%759$60,619$243,400$261 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger
La Grange, TX 78945 90%1,133$75,446$340,300$168 Very close on everything we compare
Cortez, CO 81321 90%493$59,506$289,000$217 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Colville, WA 99114 90%605$62,711$301,600$225 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Oakland, MD 21550 89%1,442$64,921$233,300$196 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger
West Jefferson, NC 28694 89%1,430$58,486$273,200$266 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Waynesville, NC 28785 89%1,390$61,769$310,300$252 7 min longer commute
Boyne City, MI 49712 89%1,062$74,033$294,800$318 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Woodruff, WI 54568 89%835$72,589$281,000$223 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller · older residents
Sturgis, SD 57785 89%165$63,897$296,100$221 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 5 min longer commute
Ludington, MI 49431 88%1,002$66,336$237,700$203 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 88%950$70,212$297,300$257 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · older residents
Cumberland, WI 54829 88%721$66,538$245,800$217 cheaper homes ($83K less) · 7 min longer commute
Polson, MT 59860 88%424$62,047$441,500$309 pricier homes ($113K more) · larger
Salmon, ID 83467 88%356$53,917$316,700$265 older residents
Ruidoso, NM 88345 88%762$53,971$263,700$228 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Clarkston, WA 99403 88%522$71,482$325,300$216 larger
Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085 87%937$73,703$241,900$193 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger
Park Rapids, MN 56470 87%591$67,500$291,100$192 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 8 min longer commute
Ashton, ID 83420 87%235$69,286$337,700$228 smaller

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.