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 Panaca, NV 89042

Panaca: median income $64,083, home value $263,300, 7-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Coulee Dam, WA 99116 78%744$65,946$238,900$165 larger · older residents · 9 min longer commute
Martin, SD 57551 75%761$70,096$161,900— cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Chinook, MT 59523 75%789$73,906$218,300— cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · older residents
Milford, UT 84751 75%85$81,908$247,100$182 larger · 6 min longer commute
Ellendale, ND 58436 74%992$69,286$164,100$110 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Sabetha, KS 66534 74%1,008$73,050$198,900$87 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · newer homes
Fayette, IA 52142 73%1,235$56,875$162,500$105 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Chester, MT 59522 73%756$57,212$177,100$88 cheaper homes ($86K less) · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Grant, NE 69140 73%709$70,417$160,800— cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger · older residents
Platte, SD 57369 72%897$78,100$237,400— cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · more homeowners
Fort Benton, MT 59442 71%726$67,917$254,000$190 larger · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Atkinson, NE 68713 70%876$77,500$195,000— cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · older residents
Declo, ID 83323 70%331$60,625$339,900$225 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Fillmore, UT 84631 70%139$67,115$301,000$161 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Mayville, ND 58257 69%1,093$60,395$196,200$242 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Hoxie, KS 67740 69%758$75,417$186,600— cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Tannersville, NY 12485 68%2,133$67,165$316,700$201 pricier homes ($53K more) · 8 min longer commute · more renters
Hancock, MI 49930 68%1,457$72,314$214,000$143 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Wagner, SD 57380 68%921$62,135$157,600$144 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Northwood, ND 58267 68%1,091$88,015$217,800$161 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Shelby, MT 59474 68%751$57,846$233,100$120 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older residents
Colby, KS 67701 68%728$70,250$177,300— cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · newer homes
Scott City, KS 67871 68%734$68,339$160,500$160 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger · older residents
Wisner, NE 68791 68%969$69,018$165,300$137 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · 11 min longer commute
Wray, CO 80758 68%663$58,929$234,000$181 cheaper homes ($29K 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.