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 Laporte, MN 56461

Laporte: median income $78,188, home value $273,700, $193/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stoutsville, OH 43154 95%797$91,250$250,700$228 Very close on everything we compare
Blue Ridge, VA 24064 94%1,020$73,583$271,300$162 Very close on everything we compare
Pauline, SC 29374 94%1,090$78,397$247,000$196 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older residents
Arnoldsville, GA 30619 94%1,101$78,250$230,100$182 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Cohutta, GA 30710 94%991$78,819$247,700$184 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Cement City, MI 49233 94%625$81,250$229,600$196 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Highlandville, MO 65669 94%716$86,932$243,800$162 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Irasburg, VT 05845 93%1,089$82,262$233,200$197 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Spout Spring, VA 24593 93%1,056$79,018$243,900$195 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Maidsville, WV 26541 93%905$73,444$236,400$163 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Climax, NC 27233 93%1,099$83,819$269,200$188 Very close on everything we compare
Etowah, NC 28729 93%1,036$84,413$321,000$244 pricier homes ($47K more)
Little Mountain, SC 29075 93%1,139$75,884$257,400$217 Very close on everything we compare
Smithfield, KY 40068 93%777$80,750$325,300$232 pricier homes ($52K more)
Sunman, IN 47041 93%736$81,016$287,400$179 larger
Pleasant Lake, MI 49272 93%611$84,107$233,300$183 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older homes
Billings, MO 65610 93%706$77,155$287,500$177 larger
West Fork, AR 72774 93%783$76,316$225,700$184 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Galway, NY 12074 92%1,049$94,583$304,800$234 pricier homes ($31K more)
Paxinos, PA 17860 92%1,000$92,000$275,800$182 Very close on everything we compare
Pinebluff, NC 28373 92%1,152$81,538$224,400$199 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Pomaria, SC 29126 92%1,130$73,702$195,200$211 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Hamilton, GA 31811 92%1,128$90,385$294,600$188 larger
Wartrace, TN 37183 92%920$81,126$245,300$180 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Rineyville, KY 40162 92%792$84,720$304,600$155 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger

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.