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 Fremont, IA 52561

Fremont: median income $76,058, home value $123,200, $134/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Daisetta, TX 77533 91%777$65,557$118,500$107 Very close on everything we compare
Bloxom, VA 23308 90%925$73,750$138,100$179 larger
Worthington, WV 26591 88%651$61,071$124,000$98 Very close on everything we compare
Elk Horn, KY 42733 88%471$81,250$183,800$126 pricier homes ($61K more)
Grover Hill, OH 45849 87%413$77,841$124,500$99 Very close on everything we compare
Medaryville, IN 47957 87%289$61,002$159,400$125 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Curtiss, WI 54422 87%278$71,667$156,300— pricier homes ($33K more) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Pickton, TX 75471 87%587$77,934$122,000$134 older residents · 5 min shorter commute
North Lawrence, NY 12967 86%929$75,781$89,000$123 cheaper homes ($34K less) · more homeowners
Rebersburg, PA 16872 86%782$72,708$199,200— pricier homes ($76K more)
Harrisonville, PA 17228 86%757$67,438$172,000$114 pricier homes ($49K more)
Ledbetter, KY 42058 86%357$66,852$118,700$128 larger · older residents
Loyal, WI 54446 86%262$74,342$159,600$112 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Hoyleton, IL 62803 86%253$81,823$118,800$135 older residents
Leeton, MO 64761 86%193$73,750$123,800$156 older residents
Altamont, KS 67330 86%317$75,208$113,800$103 Very close on everything we compare
Bovina, TX 79009 86%733$65,333$116,300$143 larger · older residents
Plains, TX 79355 86%795$76,967$143,300$138 older residents
Blain, PA 17006 85%782$64,722$169,500$114 pricier homes ($46K more) · 6 min longer commute
Pantego, NC 27860 85%934$62,083$145,300— Very close on everything we compare
Lyons, OH 43533 85%435$64,342$169,800$136 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · older residents
Unity, WI 54488 85%271$63,571$142,400$116 older residents
Withee, WI 54498 85%276$75,833$153,500$104 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · older homes
Edwards, NY 13635 84%896$71,316$104,400— older residents
Ballard, WV 24918 84%674$63,594$140,800— 7 min longer commute

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.