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 Fontanelle, IA 50846

Fontanelle: median income $74,200, home value $108,800, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Minonk, IL 61760 95%288$75,362$120,600$107 larger
Herington, KS 67449 92%219$69,357$97,800$52 larger
Emerson, NE 68733 92%131$64,479$132,600— Very close on everything we compare
Chrisman, IL 61924 91%376$76,641$106,700$106 larger
Brook, IN 47922 90%375$61,033$125,500$111 Very close on everything we compare
Winnebago, MN 56098 90%173$69,000$147,900$103 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Menno, SD 57045 90%205$76,042$117,900$108 more homeowners
Chatsworth, IL 60921 90%328$78,333$107,600$83 Very close on everything we compare
Granville, IL 61326 90%276$70,880$148,100$117 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Toluca, IL 61369 90%282$68,708$120,400$106 Very close on everything we compare
Bluffs, IL 62621 90%237$82,500$100,800$82 Very close on everything we compare
Burrton, KS 67020 90%280$80,680$130,200$77 more homeowners
Harvard, NE 68944 90%190$69,432$125,800— Very close on everything we compare
Golden Meadow, LA 70357 90%857$71,383$132,900$45 larger
Andover, NY 14806 89%864$74,688$93,200$65 more homeowners
Worthington, KY 41183 89%653$65,609$133,200$127 Very close on everything we compare
Port Edwards, WI 54469 89%318$74,038$153,400$108 pricier homes ($45K more) · more homeowners
Elbow Lake, MN 56531 89%333$74,583$154,100$104 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Mount Carroll, IL 61053 89%242$62,250$106,700$82 larger
Tiskilwa, IL 61368 89%261$88,214$126,900$121 Very close on everything we compare
Henry, IL 61537 89%269$67,404$118,200$81 larger
Bement, IL 61813 89%327$84,063$103,800$94 larger · more homeowners
Genoa, NE 68640 89%167$68,036$142,400$59 pricier homes ($34K more)
Plainview, NE 68769 89%182$61,833$122,500$52 5 min shorter commute
Dawson, PA 15428 88%783$70,368$123,200$135 Very close on everything we compare

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.