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 Shelby, MT 59474

Shelby: median income $57,846, home value $233,100, $120/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Burlington, KS 66839 92%1,072$63,077$175,500$119 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Fosston, MN 56542 91%745$59,706$186,300$128 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Wray, CO 80758 91%746$58,929$234,000$181 Very close on everything we compare
Thermopolis, WY 82443 91%366$62,767$230,000$141 Very close on everything we compare
Sheldon, IA 51201 90%851$68,799$197,800$118 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Holdrege, NE 68949 90%828$63,273$197,200$114 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Valentine, NE 69201 90%669$62,101$161,300$106 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Torrington, WY 82240 90%579$60,766$244,700$120 larger
Rawlins, WY 82301 90%515$62,841$217,300$126 larger
Lovell, WY 82431 90%301$60,295$221,300$169 Very close on everything we compare
Okanogan, WA 98840 90%356$57,342$261,600$145 pricier homes ($29K more)
Colby, WI 54421 89%1,046$60,820$194,500$114 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Benson, MN 56215 89%797$56,604$167,500$99 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Yuma, CO 80759 89%733$52,255$199,900$75 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Machias, ME 04654 88%2,092$48,838$171,600$131 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Olivia, MN 56277 88%839$70,326$184,500$133 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Warren, MN 56762 88%690$62,933$160,100$102 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Cavalier, ND 58220 88%644$61,199$183,200$125 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
West Point, NE 68788 88%866$69,867$211,700$115 Very close on everything we compare
Canadian, TX 79014 88%1,047$62,273$204,300$153 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Conyngham, PA 18219 87%1,812$52,566$236,200— smaller
Atlantic, IA 50022 87%955$63,125$157,600$104 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger
Luverne, MN 56156 87%818$71,066$232,300$133 larger
Redwood Falls, MN 56283 87%839$66,352$176,800$118 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Wadena, MN 56482 87%792$64,439$169,800$133 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger

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.