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 Fairfield, VT 05455

Fairfield: median income $110,147, home value $335,800, $209/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wentworth, NH 03282 94%84$98,333$304,500$208 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Allenton, WI 53002 93%765$117,500$332,900$214 larger
Surrey, ND 58785 92%1,349$105,375$317,200$168 Very close on everything we compare
Arlington, WI 53911 91%816$100,625$296,100$222 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Dover, MN 55929 91%943$118,977$332,300$166 Very close on everything we compare
Glyndon, MN 56547 91%1,138$102,500$304,300$162 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Richmond, UT 84333 91%1,940$108,750$398,900$188 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Underwood, IA 51576 90%1,161$110,476$305,400$180 cheaper homes ($30K less)
White Post, VA 22663 89%474$135,046$378,700$226 pricier homes ($43K more)
Russia, OH 45363 89%659$95,268$316,900— Very close on everything we compare
Kindred, ND 58051 89%1,160$107,396$331,100$241 larger · older homes
Westphalia, MO 65085 89%1,073$103,563$290,600$244 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older homes
Eagle, MI 48822 88%600$91,299$300,900$176 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Deerfield, WI 53531 88%807$105,000$353,300$219 larger
Chaseburg, WI 54621 88%895$94,286$280,000$202 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Carlton, MN 55718 88%945$96,546$319,100$198 larger · older residents
Sabin, MN 56580 88%1,140$107,813$282,200$165 cheaper homes ($54K less) · older homes
Baltic, SD 57003 88%1,173$111,932$281,500$194 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · newer homes
New Underwood, SD 57761 88%1,462$97,734$253,100$211 cheaper homes ($83K less) · older residents
Agency, MO 64401 88%1,161$99,398$271,900— cheaper homes ($64K less)
Edgecomb, ME 04556 87%177$108,750$348,400$296 Very close on everything we compare
Barneveld, WI 53507 87%848$113,261$347,400$224 larger · 5 min longer commute
Fall Creek, WI 54742 87%894$102,083$282,100$189 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Mazeppa, MN 55956 87%959$98,558$341,600$188 larger · older residents
Schaghticoke, NY 12154 86%133$106,136$251,300$197 cheaper homes ($85K 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.