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 Ritzville, WA 99169

Ritzville: median income $66,061, home value $228,400, $103/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Akron, CO 80720 90%895$65,913$219,100$96 Very close on everything we compare
Minden, NE 68959 89%1,069$70,167$221,400$107 larger · more single-family homes
Shamokin Dam, PA 17876 88%2,086$70,972$203,500$110 newer homes
West Point, NE 68788 88%1,124$69,867$211,700$115 larger
Osage, IA 50461 87%1,267$68,886$180,400$134 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Eveleth, MN 55734 87%1,207$62,703$158,700$101 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Springfield, MN 56087 87%1,143$64,375$142,600$92 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Bellwood, PA 16617 86%2,022$52,609$145,500$121 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Blue Earth, MN 56013 86%1,199$71,553$176,900$103 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Luverne, MN 56156 86%1,098$71,066$232,300$133 larger
Benson, MN 56215 86%1,094$56,604$167,500$99 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Dawson, MN 56232 86%1,079$75,069$172,300$92 cheaper homes ($56K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Webster, SD 57274 86%1,002$68,083$173,200$139 cheaper homes ($55K less) · newer homes
Geneva, NE 68361 86%1,128$80,909$170,800$104 cheaper homes ($58K less) · newer homes
Lancaster, NH 03584 85%2,229$66,768$209,500$163 older residents
Herminie, PA 15637 85%1,969$70,461$220,600$159 less walkable
Flora, IN 46929 85%1,641$56,940$186,500$129 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Woodbine, IA 51579 85%1,175$72,500$204,400$121 younger residents · less walkable
Olivia, MN 56277 85%1,133$70,326$184,500$133 cheaper homes ($44K less) · newer homes
Freeman, SD 57029 85%1,048$73,750$179,700$107 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Gothenburg, NE 69138 85%999$77,604$199,300$105 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · newer homes
Shadyside, OH 43947 84%1,928$58,269$153,600$130 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger
Sibley, IA 51249 84%1,127$61,500$160,700$117 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Elkader, IA 52043 84%1,344$76,705$165,000$131 cheaper homes ($63K less)
West Union, IA 52175 84%1,322$59,800$160,600$88 cheaper homes ($68K less)

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.