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 Fargo, ND 58104

Fargo: median income $85,747, home value $359,400, $177/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Des Moines, IA 50266 92%391$87,025$345,600$221 Very close on everything we compare
Greenville, SC 29607 90%1,118$74,503$359,500$194 Very close on everything we compare
Harrisonburg, VA 22801 88%1,076$72,067$364,300$202 older homes
Charlotte, NC 28273 86%1,153$87,350$340,600$197 6 min longer commute
Madison, WI 53719 85%443$92,052$367,000$242 Very close on everything we compare
Madison, WI 53718 83%449$102,843$363,600$227 smaller
Kansas City, MO 64154 83%533$86,213$355,700$205 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Atlanta, GA 30318 82%1,108$83,116$430,600$248 pricier homes ($71K more) · 9 min longer commute
Lenexa, KS 66219 82%552$94,124$394,400$188 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Jacksonville, FL 32256 81%1,407$73,570$382,500$212 less walkable
Huntsville, AL 35806 81%986$86,768$347,700$174 smaller · less walkable
Coralville, IA 52241 81%438$69,243$298,900$173 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · older homes
Jacksonville, FL 32246 78%1,404$80,963$312,900$222 cheaper homes ($47K less) · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Columbus, OH 43235 78%833$86,666$383,500$206 older residents · older homes
Sioux Falls, SD 57106 78%226$77,580$290,200$188 cheaper homes ($69K less) · more homeowners
Lewisville, TX 75067 78%952$78,752$343,900$206 7 min longer commute · older homes
San Antonio, TX 78249 78%1,194$80,565$305,400$169 cheaper homes ($54K less) · 8 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Orem, UT 84058 78%868$74,553$472,400$226 pricier homes ($113K more) · younger residents · older homes
Logan, UT 84341 78%816$69,310$465,700$203 pricier homes ($106K more) · smaller · younger residents
Raleigh, NC 27606 77%1,206$78,371$457,900$247 pricier homes ($99K more) · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28262 77%1,150$69,231$346,600$184 7 min longer commute · more renters
Gainesville, FL 32606 77%1,412$87,953$347,800$189 smaller · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Spring, TX 77380 77%1,153$88,562$375,500$215 smaller · older residents · 9 min longer commute
Austin, TX 78744 77%1,148$83,002$357,500$212 9 min longer commute
Panama City Beach, FL 32407 76%1,289$80,831$404,200$235 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · 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.