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 Fort Benton, MT 59442

Fort Benton: median income $67,917, home value $254,000, $190/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Coulee Dam, WA 99116 92%385$65,946$238,900$165 Very close on everything we compare
Colfax, WA 99111 91%324$73,393$295,800$184 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Smithville, OH 44677 90%1,490$75,435$230,600$247 Very close on everything we compare
Lovell, WY 82431 90%238$60,295$221,300$169 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Oriskany, NY 13424 89%1,722$84,844$208,200$163 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Wray, CO 80758 89%678$58,929$234,000$181 larger · newer homes
Hurleyville, NY 12747 88%1,794$71,563$336,900$141 pricier homes ($83K more)
Pine Level, NC 27568 88%1,858$66,071$230,800— 6 min longer commute
Burke, SD 57523 88%637$68,750$214,400$139 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · older residents
Albion, NE 68620 88%751$83,450$231,700$169 larger
Archbold, OH 43502 87%1,357$74,925$203,300$177 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Luverne, MN 56156 87%751$71,066$232,300$133 larger
Ortonville, MN 56278 87%694$63,203$202,800$144 cheaper homes ($51K less) · older residents
Basin, WY 82410 87%274$68,839$197,300$155 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older residents · newer homes
Mayville, NY 14757 86%1,556$67,115$186,700$215 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Herminie, PA 15637 86%1,609$70,461$220,600$159 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 9 min longer commute
Walcott, IA 52773 86%1,063$85,523$214,400$178 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Union Springs, NY 13160 85%1,670$86,029$185,600$168 cheaper homes ($68K less) · 5 min longer commute
New Bremen, OH 45869 85%1,390$88,277$249,700$183 larger
Sloan, IA 51055 85%802$72,143$218,300$156 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 5 min longer commute
Olivia, MN 56277 85%775$70,326$184,500$133 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Alcester, SD 57001 85%756$69,531$177,400$166 cheaper homes ($77K less) · 6 min longer commute
De Smet, SD 57231 85%669$78,646$212,200$125 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Chamberlain, SD 57325 85%613$80,139$230,300$157 larger · newer homes
Wall, SD 57790 85%486$75,096$187,500$172 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute

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.