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 Idaho Falls, ID 83402

Idaho Falls: median income $74,517, home value $334,900, $168/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Portsmouth, VA 23703 94%1,922$78,707$295,900$200 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Salisbury, MD 21801 93%1,918$71,313$327,700$177 Very close on everything we compare
Eau Claire, WI 54703 93%1,020$71,518$243,700$178 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Minot, ND 58703 93%614$82,728$263,200$143 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Bloomsburg, PA 17815 92%1,816$67,510$222,900$160 cheaper homes ($112K less)
Rochester, MN 55904 92%980$77,016$253,600$186 cheaper homes ($81K less)
San Angelo, TX 76904 92%1,046$81,833$285,400$176 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Cheyenne, WY 82001 92%405$75,362$316,500$189 Very close on everything we compare
Ridgecrest, CA 93555 92%620$86,700$252,900$184 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Knoxville, TN 37920 91%1,576$66,362$267,600$228 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 91%891$76,138$272,400$161 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller · newer homes
Bemidji, MN 56601 91%879$72,262$260,900$170 cheaper homes ($74K less) · newer homes
Lees Summit, MO 64063 91%971$80,459$263,000$174 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Jefferson City, MO 65101 91%1,089$74,807$243,600$142 cheaper homes ($91K less) · older residents
Appleton, WI 54914 90%1,174$79,875$237,400$180 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Saint Peter, MN 56082 90%900$71,456$275,200$169 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Mandan, ND 58554 90%589$80,120$277,900$165 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Fort Morgan, CO 80701 90%480$70,302$347,600$189 smaller
Valparaiso, IN 46383 89%1,277$76,224$279,900$179 cheaper homes ($55K less) · 5 min longer commute
Menomonie, WI 54751 89%999$72,028$253,000$168 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Metairie, LA 70006 89%1,519$76,505$344,800$167 smaller
Brenham, TX 77833 89%1,259$73,388$280,500$172 cheaper homes ($54K less) · older residents · newer homes
Casper, WY 82601 89%293$67,642$249,100$174 cheaper homes ($86K less) · older residents
Shippensburg, PA 17257 88%1,783$71,181$227,900$156 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Florence, SC 29501 88%1,839$71,671$236,900$156 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · older residents

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.