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 Fairmount, IL 61841

Fairmount: median income $64,792, home value $127,200, $158/sq ft, 41-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lacona, IA 50139 93%302$72,400$151,600$170 Very close on everything we compare
Varysburg, NY 14167 91%527$67,132$150,000— larger
Daggett, MI 49821 88%377$58,750$164,300$162 pricier homes ($37K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Floodwood, MN 55736 88%538$65,179$164,500$180 pricier homes ($37K more)
Glenfield, NY 13343 87%689$70,478$163,600$236 pricier homes ($36K more)
Mapleton Depot, PA 17052 85%521$67,115$133,900$101 Very close on everything we compare
Jumping Branch, WV 25969 85%404$60,250$182,300— pricier homes ($55K more) · larger
Bellevue, TX 76228 85%723$69,250$171,200$176 pricier homes ($44K more) · younger residents
Pembroke, ME 04666 84%1,101$60,761$142,100$156 10 min shorter commute
Eagle Bridge, NY 12057 84%775$68,306$205,700$132 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger
Sidney Center, NY 13839 84%670$54,271$121,300$161 7 min shorter commute
Mathias, WV 26812 84%484$64,375$144,200$158 older residents · newer homes
Copperhill, TN 37317 84%395$72,371$151,000$195 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Lewisville, OH 43754 84%351$75,568$149,000$146 younger residents
Kinsman, OH 44428 84%392$59,375$166,400$129 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Carthage, IN 46115 84%122$61,406$172,800$147 pricier homes ($46K more) · younger residents
Bancroft, MI 48414 84%275$68,214$195,300$186 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger
Hale, MO 64643 84%294$56,688$113,000$141 8 min shorter commute
Taylor, AR 71861 84%571$58,150$118,500$138 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Jefferson, NY 12093 83%707$65,321$174,800$192 pricier homes ($48K more) · older residents
Peterstown, WV 24963 83%422$55,179$145,700$107 larger
Peytona, WV 25154 83%354$67,243$106,900— younger residents
Victor, WV 25938 83%388$59,833$99,300— cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Fairview, WV 26570 83%403$71,048$155,800$158 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Little Rock, MS 39337 83%524$61,750$112,700— newer 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.