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 Freeport, MN 56331

Freeport: median income $96,042, home value $271,800, $169/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bethel, PA 19507 97%993$93,177$271,700$172 larger
Russia, OH 45363 95%640$95,268$316,900— pricier homes ($45K more)
Buskirk, NY 12028 93%1,063$96,891$247,700— 6 min longer commute
New Paris, IN 46553 93%528$89,417$280,200$209 larger
Larchwood, IA 51241 93%177$87,446$280,600$145 Very close on everything we compare
Humboldt, SD 57035 93%185$99,565$326,500— pricier homes ($55K more)
Taylor Ridge, IL 61284 93%356$100,505$236,900$204 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Edgerton, KS 66021 93%476$88,125$242,300$219 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents
Conklin, MI 49403 92%469$85,000$279,600$207 Very close on everything we compare
Inwood, IA 51240 92%185$83,929$232,600$123 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Arlington, WI 53911 92%308$100,625$296,100$222 Very close on everything we compare
Chaseburg, WI 54621 92%224$94,286$280,000$202 smaller
De Graff, OH 43318 91%657$91,520$215,900$143 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Cutler, IN 46920 91%549$100,074$280,500— Very close on everything we compare
Eagle, MI 48822 91%528$91,299$300,900$176 pricier homes ($29K more) · older residents · newer homes
Westphalia, MI 48894 91%523$101,923$275,900$178 Very close on everything we compare
Strum, WI 54770 91%178$83,636$226,500$189 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older residents
Parker, SD 57053 91%198$93,393$273,800$212 Very close on everything we compare
Mazon, IL 60444 91%439$87,614$219,000$188 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Raymond, OH 43067 90%675$95,903$303,100$194 pricier homes ($31K more)
Anna, OH 45302 90%641$91,602$242,300$178 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Elberfeld, IN 47613 90%636$112,112$224,200$123 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Clarksville, MI 48815 90%506$85,962$244,200$213 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Jones, MI 49061 90%512$79,229$223,500$161 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Greenleaf, WI 54126 90%339$99,310$283,900$198 larger · older residents

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.