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 West Fargo, ND 58078

West Fargo: median income $91,040, home value $324,100, $173/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sioux Falls, SD 57106 87%233$77,580$290,200$188 cheaper homes ($34K less) · less walkable
Lincoln, NE 68516 87%424$100,821$354,000$170 pricier homes ($30K more)
Sioux Falls, SD 57110 86%231$88,955$396,100$206 pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller · less walkable
Grandville, MI 49418 85%611$84,846$321,700$212 less walkable · older homes
Champaign, IL 61822 85%636$99,006$287,000$168 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32246 84%1,412$80,963$312,900$222 larger
Lexington, KY 40511 84%876$79,540$252,400$180 cheaper homes ($72K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Minneapolis, MN 55443 84%211$95,082$370,800$179 pricier homes ($47K more) · older homes
Wichita, KS 67226 84%633$92,341$304,500$136 smaller
Lincoln, NE 68512 84%424$104,448$322,400$167 smaller · older residents
Charlotte, NC 28273 83%1,160$87,350$340,600$197 more renters · less walkable
Madison, WI 53718 83%456$102,843$363,600$227 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Orem, UT 84057 82%865$82,780$440,200$230 pricier homes ($116K more) · younger residents · older homes
Johnston, IA 50131 81%394$106,551$369,400$228 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller
West Des Moines, IA 50265 81%399$85,915$281,800$213 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older homes
Shakopee, MN 55379 81%219$106,312$379,700$201 pricier homes ($56K more) · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Lincoln, NE 68521 81%417$67,483$252,800$162 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Newark, DE 19702 80%1,175$92,446$346,100$209 7 min longer commute · less walkable
Chesapeake, VA 23320 80%1,270$84,305$346,400$219 older residents · 7 min longer commute
Durham, NC 27703 80%1,197$89,317$378,400$201 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Altoona, IA 50009 80%400$88,447$278,300$237 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Saint Paul, MN 55124 80%232$97,727$370,400$189 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
La Vista, NE 68128 80%397$86,410$291,300$171 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · less walkable
Richland, WA 99352 80%1,059$100,108$474,100$263 pricier homes ($150K more)
Virginia Beach, VA 23453 79%1,275$93,838$336,900$234 6 min longer commute · older homes

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.