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 Fruitland, IA 52749

Fruitland: median income $103,424, home value $217,700, $136/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hamshire, TX 77622 86%813$100,556$208,000$149 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Worthing, SD 57077 85%319$88,125$234,500$175 older residents
Surrey, ND 58785 85%682$105,375$317,200$168 pricier homes ($100K more) · larger
Woodburn, IN 46797 84%326$103,566$260,600$149 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · older residents
Glenarm, IL 62536 84%141$95,809$260,000$112 pricier homes ($42K more) · older residents · older homes
Mason, IL 62443 83%211$86,950$172,000$104 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Elberfeld, IN 47613 82%293$112,112$224,200$123 larger · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Freeport, MN 56331 81%348$96,042$271,800$169 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Aurora, UT 84620 81%1,109$88,810$299,700$130 pricier homes ($82K more) · older residents
Warne, NC 28909 80%588$80,875$285,400$153 pricier homes ($68K more) · older residents
Spruce Pine, AL 35585 80%511$92,679$211,200$94 larger · older residents · more renters
Baltic, SD 57003 80%331$111,932$281,500$194 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · more renters
Belle Haven, VA 23306 79%853$108,438$280,600$103 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger · more renters
Dayton, IN 47941 78%237$78,553$175,400$146 cheaper homes ($42K less) · more renters · older homes
Dieterich, IL 62424 78%215$84,635$225,800$142 larger · more renters
Juniata, NE 68955 78%389$90,850$266,400$151 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · older residents
Sorrento, LA 70778 78%771$101,967$253,000$151 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · older residents
Bartonsville, PA 18321 77%822$100,481$242,100$153 larger · older residents
Haskins, OH 43525 77%384$108,672$241,300$179 older residents
Fort Loramie, OH 45845 77%360$95,078$306,300— pricier homes ($89K more) · larger
Milford, KS 66514 77%340$93,889$227,400$126 older residents · more renters
Olpe, KS 66865 77%343$93,333$181,600$125 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older homes
Kiefer, OK 74041 77%458$83,365$224,500$140 larger · more renters
Anna, OH 45302 76%367$91,602$242,300$178 larger · older homes
Russia, OH 45363 76%359$95,268$316,900— pricier homes ($99K more) · larger · older homes

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.