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 Montgomery, MN 56069

Montgomery: median income $87,118, home value $269,700, $183/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fredonia, WI 53021 97%287$89,779$315,800$216 pricier homes ($46K more)
Womelsdorf, PA 19567 96%928$91,458$250,600$168 Very close on everything we compare
Richwood, OH 43344 96%591$80,909$237,900$184 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Burton, OH 44021 96%661$82,008$242,900$170 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Clear Lake, WI 54005 96%85$87,813$274,300$206 smaller
Mechanicsburg, OH 43044 95%594$76,397$235,400$220 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Mitchellville, IA 50169 95%192$83,938$227,000$151 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Monroe, IA 50170 95%203$88,704$217,000$149 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Randolph, WI 53956 95%236$84,231$232,800$226 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Seymour, WI 54165 95%260$87,048$247,000$189 larger
Cadott, WI 54727 95%124$81,575$228,500$183 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Beresford, SD 57004 95%185$88,750$264,100$168 Very close on everything we compare
Wellsville, KS 66092 95%403$87,524$241,700$173 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Glenrock, WY 82637 95%625$80,038$278,800$193 Very close on everything we compare
Cottonwood, ID 83522 95%1,111$79,688$250,000$178 smaller
Moosup, CT 06354 94%1,108$87,711$298,600$228 pricier homes ($29K more)
Marcy, NY 13403 94%915$86,300$226,600$168 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Lake Odessa, MI 48849 94%437$80,313$223,600$194 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Palmyra, WI 53156 94%272$85,313$238,200$191 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Biglerville, PA 17307 93%889$88,571$258,200$171 Very close on everything we compare
Bethel, PA 19507 93%922$93,177$271,700$172 Very close on everything we compare
Bellville, OH 44813 93%621$77,846$225,200$175 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Leslie, MI 49251 93%479$85,253$206,300$149 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Clinton, WI 53525 93%269$79,323$248,100$189 Very close on everything we compare
Waterloo, WI 53594 93%245$88,390$244,200$187 cheaper homes ($26K 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.