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 Surrey, ND 58785

Surrey: median income $105,375, home value $317,200, $168/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Andale, KS 67001 93%743$98,661$357,300$178 pricier homes ($40K more)
Fairfield, VT 05455 92%1,349$110,147$335,800$209 Very close on everything we compare
Eagle, MI 48822 92%873$91,299$300,900$176 5 min longer commute
Haskins, OH 43525 91%970$108,672$241,300$179 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Fort Loramie, OH 45845 91%989$95,078$306,300— larger
Woodburn, IN 46797 91%935$103,566$260,600$149 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Atkins, IA 52206 91%623$116,071$309,700$140 Very close on everything we compare
Baltic, SD 57003 91%375$111,932$281,500$194 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more renters
Juniata, NE 68955 91%544$90,850$266,400$151 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Dover, MN 55929 90%520$118,977$332,300$166 6 min longer commute
Richmond, UT 84333 90%678$108,750$398,900$188 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger
Ellerslie, GA 31807 89%1,372$109,345$323,400$176 Very close on everything we compare
Glyndon, MN 56547 88%232$102,500$304,300$162 larger · older homes
Worthing, SD 57077 88%399$88,125$234,500$175 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Agency, MO 64401 88%672$99,398$271,900— cheaper homes ($45K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Sorrento, LA 70778 88%1,360$101,967$253,000$151 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Aurora, UT 84620 88%839$88,810$299,700$130 Very close on everything we compare
Wentworth, NH 03282 87%1,424$98,333$304,500$208 smaller · more renters
Russia, OH 45363 87%992$95,268$316,900— older homes
Walford, IA 52351 87%630$128,750$303,000$117 Very close on everything we compare
Sabin, MN 56580 87%234$107,813$282,200$165 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older homes
Leo, IN 46765 86%924$112,328$357,900$172 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Palo, IA 52324 86%624$115,917$327,400$200 7 min longer commute
Warne, NC 28909 85%1,270$80,875$285,400$153 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Laotto, IN 46763 85%914$97,054$270,800$155 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 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.