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 Foreston, MN 56330

Foreston: median income $84,519, home value $278,300, $272/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Leeds, ME 04263 95%1,152$85,208$257,800$252 Very close on everything we compare
Shawboro, NC 27973 93%1,117$86,375$322,200$223 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller
Kingsville, MO 64061 93%476$85,987$283,000$229 larger
North Waterboro, ME 04061 92%1,133$94,023$274,300$305 Very close on everything we compare
Brush Creek, TN 38547 92%774$80,843$244,100$221 cheaper homes ($34K less)
King William, VA 23086 91%1,015$89,583$323,400$234 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Cross Plains, TN 37049 91%729$90,048$368,800$315 pricier homes ($91K more) · larger
Trenton, TX 75490 91%860$92,500$361,500$190 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger
Limerick, ME 04048 90%1,130$101,172$269,400$332 larger
Jetersville, VA 23083 90%990$82,096$309,900$239 pricier homes ($32K more)
Buckley, MI 49620 90%398$75,192$225,000$224 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Silex, MO 63377 90%475$88,424$233,600$275 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · older residents
Saint Elizabeth, MO 65075 90%519$87,431$283,100— smaller
Wales, MA 01081 89%1,096$86,979$296,800$324 older homes
Holtwood, PA 17532 89%967$84,562$348,600$312 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger
Conowingo, MD 21918 89%980$84,587$324,800$230 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · older residents
Rydal, GA 30171 89%916$73,409$365,000$224 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger
Pierson, MI 49339 89%435$86,611$241,100$206 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Tolar, TX 76476 89%947$81,364$249,600$203 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Levant, ME 04456 88%1,198$86,071$268,500$207 Very close on everything we compare
Church Hill, MD 21623 88%1,007$78,345$391,400$183 pricier homes ($113K more)
Hindsville, AR 72738 88%661$86,296$229,000$211 cheaper homes ($49K less) · more renters
Jefferson, ME 04348 87%1,182$78,929$286,300$226 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Woodford, VA 22580 87%985$93,603$353,800$248 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger
Shipman, VA 22971 87%941$79,135$319,000$260 pricier homes ($41K more) · more renters

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.