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.

Reset

Towns most like Faribault, MN 55021

Faribault: median income $68,820, home value $280,200, $169/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waynesboro, VA 22980 96%860$63,943$268,100$198 Very close on everything we compare
Athens, TN 37303 95%764$62,078$232,100$173 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Tullahoma, TN 37388 94%722$59,537$249,900$193 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Bellefontaine, OH 43311 94%557$67,914$207,600$171 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller
Franklin, OH 45005 94%566$75,399$218,600$182 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Lebanon, IN 46052 94%456$68,930$221,900$178 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Elkhart, IN 46514 94%410$65,833$197,800$148 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Sparta, WI 54656 94%125$72,379$214,400$155 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 94%103$75,809$283,500$188 Very close on everything we compare
Fremont, NE 68025 94%256$72,254$222,000$165 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Gainesville, TX 76240 94%764$71,502$227,100$180 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Casper, WY 82601 94%659$67,642$249,100$174 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Bellefonte, PA 16823 93%822$76,245$272,800$188 Very close on everything we compare
Waynesboro, PA 17268 93%863$73,161$237,000$164 cheaper homes ($43K less) · 6 min longer commute
Salem, VA 24153 93%842$74,260$266,500$157 Very close on everything we compare
Vinton, VA 24179 93%851$67,565$224,600$157 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
New Bern, NC 28560 93%1,070$65,411$216,900$171 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Eustis, FL 32726 93%1,243$63,152$255,400$181 Very close on everything we compare
Winchester, KY 40391 93%643$64,144$204,900$162 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Dover, OH 44622 93%655$70,780$223,600$179 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Wilmington, OH 45177 93%589$74,051$226,300$183 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Jackson, MI 49201 93%469$74,484$215,900$150 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Portage, WI 53901 93%196$74,092$227,700$177 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Sulphur Springs, TX 75482 93%781$69,970$231,000$148 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Pueblo, CO 81005 93%723$70,574$298,500$166 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.