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 Fort Atkinson, IA 52144

Fort Atkinson: median income $84,609, home value $217,500, $101/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Durhamville, NY 13054 97%818$94,100$227,500$96 Very close on everything we compare
South Wayne, WI 53587 95%109$90,250$203,900$100 Very close on everything we compare
Mead, NE 68041 95%269$74,000$251,300— pricier homes ($34K more)
Adrian, MN 56110 94%204$77,875$176,400$103 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Wyoming, NY 14591 93%699$85,804$163,500$96 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Fertile, MN 56540 93%371$83,646$194,800$125 larger
Homer, IL 61849 93%296$86,250$159,900$106 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Luckey, OH 43443 92%447$97,917$207,100$115 larger
Swayzee, IN 46986 92%362$79,438$162,600$112 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Stewart, MN 55385 92%167$78,125$206,300$111 Very close on everything we compare
Brownsdale, MN 55918 92%63$78,523$163,700$104 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Harmony, MN 55939 92%30$70,855$198,800$120 larger
Fulda, MN 56131 92%192$73,063$180,100$99 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Nashua, MT 59248 92%777$89,821$216,000— older residents
Axtell, NE 68924 92%412$85,000$236,800$103 Very close on everything we compare
Cedarville, NJ 08311 91%905$86,324$247,600$137 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Clayville, NY 13322 91%840$91,369$204,800$141 Very close on everything we compare
North Rose, NY 14516 91%755$76,000$172,400$114 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
New Berlin, PA 17855 91%781$88,929$216,700$151 Very close on everything we compare
New Riegel, OH 44853 91%463$90,281$156,100— cheaper homes ($61K less)
Remington, IN 47977 91%294$80,000$167,100$87 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Grand Meadow, MN 55936 91%52$85,114$232,500$146 larger
Alden, MN 56009 91%91$80,804$203,700$108 older residents
Sherburn, MN 56171 91%146$72,554$169,800$122 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Tyler, MN 56178 91%225$87,031$165,400$125 cheaper homes ($52K 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.