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 Fairmont, MN 56031

Fairmont: median income $54,847, home value $179,300, $111/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Elkins, WV 26241 96%824$50,538$152,000$119 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Bristol, VA 24201 93%808$48,764$176,500$135 Very close on everything we compare
Presque Isle, ME 04769 92%1,299$55,768$147,200$148 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Escanaba, MI 49829 92%390$50,277$146,300$123 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Spencer, IA 51301 91%49$63,402$188,300$122 younger residents
Ashland, WI 54806 91%271$64,864$185,800$112 younger residents
Holdrege, NE 68949 91%335$63,273$197,200$114 smaller · younger residents
Houlton, ME 04730 90%1,307$61,980$145,200$128 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Norwich, NY 13815 90%956$61,469$133,900$113 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Meadville, PA 16335 90%739$57,591$161,600$133 larger
Jamestown, ND 58401 90%308$60,228$215,800$120 pricier homes ($37K more)
Beatrice, NE 68310 90%261$60,928$168,000$118 Very close on everything we compare
Raton, NM 87740 90%702$52,815$153,100$114 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Parkersburg, WV 26104 89%734$54,331$170,800$138 7 min longer commute
Atlantic, IA 50022 89%157$63,125$157,600$104 younger residents
Mount Pleasant, IA 52641 89%236$64,512$171,400$112 younger residents
Prairie Du Chien, WI 53821 89%172$60,647$168,300$143 Very close on everything we compare
Valley City, ND 58072 89%285$64,375$177,800$108 younger residents
Lewistown, MT 59457 89%763$64,762$242,300$125 pricier homes ($63K more)
Hannibal, MO 63401 89%314$60,036$152,100$116 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · younger residents
Ogallala, NE 69153 89%409$61,946$163,000$111 smaller
Caribou, ME 04736 88%1,298$54,368$139,000$139 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Seneca Falls, NY 13148 88%888$65,313$149,300$124 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Clearfield, PA 16830 88%836$58,304$130,300$110 cheaper homes ($49K less) · 6 min longer commute
Towanda, PA 18848 88%921$59,861$175,200$128 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.