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 Monticello, MN 55362

Monticello: median income $91,832, home value $350,200, $196/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Belle Chasse, LA 70037 98%1,088$98,983$385,200$191 pricier homes ($35K more)
Lakeland, FL 33811 95%1,359$90,263$333,200$190 Very close on everything we compare
New Richmond, WI 54017 94%63$98,571$321,700$211 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Grain Valley, MO 64029 94%434$91,704$309,300$186 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460 93%1,139$88,908$343,600$203 smaller
Cleves, OH 45002 93%626$81,229$310,900$190 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Pasadena, TX 77505 93%1,083$98,125$294,800$155 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Aberdeen, NC 28315 92%1,031$77,418$303,100$174 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Plant City, FL 33566 92%1,355$72,393$330,900$202 Very close on everything we compare
Hartford, WI 53027 92%301$91,150$332,500$222 older residents
Holmen, WI 54636 92%155$96,384$321,500$182 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Gardner, KS 66030 92%452$97,822$313,100$200 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Brookshire, TX 77423 92%1,077$84,490$314,800$161 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Gillette, WY 82718 92%585$104,458$309,000$174 cheaper homes ($41K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Oxford, PA 19363 91%981$107,067$370,200$217 Very close on everything we compare
Elkton, MD 21921 91%993$85,775$330,400$190 larger
Chester, VA 23831 91%1,009$95,750$336,700$207 larger
Walton, KY 41094 91%645$96,515$293,700$185 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Plano, IL 60545 91%364$86,756$241,500$210 cheaper homes ($109K less)
North East, MD 21901 90%989$113,719$367,400$210 Very close on everything we compare
Martinsburg, WV 25403 90%898$87,512$298,500$162 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Browns Summit, NC 27214 90%966$82,655$310,500$184 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Goose Creek, SC 29445 90%1,120$81,594$281,500$199 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Palmetto, GA 30268 90%947$91,349$305,900$167 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · older residents
Rincon, GA 31326 90%1,122$83,145$279,300$184 cheaper homes ($71K less)

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.