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 Pocatello, ID 83201

Pocatello: median income $66,357, home value $287,200, $179/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Eau Claire, WI 54703 95%1,048$71,518$243,700$178 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Bloomsburg, PA 17815 94%1,840$67,510$222,900$160 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Cheyenne, WY 82001 94%410$75,362$316,500$189 pricier homes ($29K more)
Winona, MN 55987 92%1,040$61,624$221,800$157 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Casper, WY 82601 92%310$67,642$249,100$174 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older residents
Findlay, OH 45840 91%1,477$68,083$213,000$165 cheaper homes ($74K less) · older residents
Lafayette, IN 47905 91%1,327$65,861$235,600$176 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Rochester, MN 55904 91%1,006$77,016$253,600$186 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 91%1,265$66,654$219,800$135 cheaper homes ($67K less)
High Point, NC 27262 90%1,783$65,006$236,500$155 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Knoxville, TN 37920 90%1,588$66,362$267,600$228 6 min longer commute
Holland, MI 49423 90%1,328$81,858$278,000$233 Very close on everything we compare
Aberdeen, SD 57401 90%713$68,835$226,200$223 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Bismarck, ND 58501 90%631$68,755$279,700$161 older residents
Tyler, TX 75701 90%1,185$66,401$213,700$142 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Greenville, SC 29605 89%1,700$65,648$256,300$189 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 7 min longer commute
Erlanger, KY 41018 89%1,470$68,605$192,100$199 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Marquette, MI 49855 89%1,247$62,083$263,300$224 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Peter, MN 56082 89%927$71,456$275,200$169 smaller
Great Falls, MT 59405 89%324$59,449$250,100$194 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Hays, KS 67601 89%737$61,417$227,300$133 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Knoxville, TN 37921 88%1,582$60,013$226,300$220 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Owensboro, KY 42301 88%1,373$66,885$198,200$152 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Goshen, IN 46526 88%1,357$67,461$204,200$159 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Eau Claire, WI 54701 88%1,049$74,361$289,900$184 Very close on everything we compare

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.