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 Fosston, MN 56542

Fosston: median income $59,706, home value $186,300, $128/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Burlington, KS 66839 96%646$63,077$175,500$119 Very close on everything we compare
Ord, NE 68862 95%442$60,321$163,100— Very close on everything we compare
Covington, IN 47932 94%661$59,811$182,400$134 larger
Big Sandy, MT 59520 94%665$62,109$204,000$130 smaller
Canadian, TX 79014 94%841$62,273$204,300$153 Very close on everything we compare
Center, CO 81125 93%858$56,250$148,700$137 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Falls Creek, PA 15840 92%944$57,344$123,100$123 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Steeleville, IL 62288 92%729$67,159$177,500$105 Very close on everything we compare
Eastland, TX 76448 92%1,061$57,122$183,000$124 larger
Mars Hill, ME 04758 91%1,307$65,156$162,200$120 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Calvert City, KY 42029 91%820$64,083$154,100$117 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Munising, MI 49862 91%434$61,340$169,400$127 larger · more homeowners
Cavalier, ND 58220 91%124$61,199$183,200$125 Very close on everything we compare
Shelby, MT 59474 91%745$57,846$233,100$120 pricier homes ($47K more)
Concordia, MO 64020 91%604$59,269$201,500$138 older residents
Valentine, NE 69201 91%406$62,101$161,300$106 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Wray, CO 80758 91%615$58,929$234,000$181 pricier homes ($48K more)
Okanogan, WA 98840 91%1,101$57,342$261,600$145 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger
Machias, ME 04654 90%1,359$48,838$171,600$131 Very close on everything we compare
Croghan, NY 13327 90%1,012$66,875$181,300$144 more homeowners
Sloan, IA 51055 90%370$72,143$218,300$156 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Flandreau, SD 57028 90%247$72,798$193,800$122 Very close on everything we compare
Miller, SD 57362 90%264$67,083$158,900$151 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Park River, ND 58270 90%109$69,811$164,200$129 older residents
Lockwood, MO 65682 90%710$53,590$164,300$143 Very close on everything we compare

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.