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 Erving, MA 01344

Erving: median income $77,656, home value $271,800, $209/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chaffee, NY 14030 94%309$78,182$218,700$209 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Albany, WI 53502 94%863$87,000$252,300$220 Very close on everything we compare
Reeseville, WI 53579 94%831$79,792$239,100$207 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Alma, KS 66401 94%1,268$73,516$220,900$176 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Esperance, NY 12066 92%95$78,571$197,800$192 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Argyle, WI 53504 91%884$83,690$220,700$188 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Arlington, MN 55307 91%1,089$73,533$250,400$168 larger
Poland, NY 13431 90%140$76,000$245,100$150 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Interlaken, NY 14847 90%219$73,594$186,100$163 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Jamestown, IN 46147 90%758$80,707$216,800$203 cheaper homes ($55K less) · newer homes
New Ross, IN 47968 90%764$83,242$213,400$230 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Malvern, IA 51551 90%1,194$85,469$212,400$250 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Palmyra, WI 53156 90%819$85,313$238,200$191 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · newer homes
Clinton, WI 53525 90%835$79,323$248,100$189 larger
Potlatch, ID 83855 90%2,173$84,423$298,300$223 pricier homes ($27K more) · newer homes
Bally, PA 19503 89%223$77,411$234,600$252 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Hustisford, WI 53034 89%818$78,661$234,900$212 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Monticello, WI 53570 89%871$87,500$245,200$183 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · newer homes
Orfordville, WI 53576 89%854$63,750$225,000$197 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Oakley, ID 83346 89%2,093$70,114$268,500$186 more single-family homes
Troy, NH 03465 88%20$88,871$266,600$259 newer homes
Windham, CT 06280 88%64$76,577$250,500$213 larger · older residents
South Wales, NY 14139 88%311$86,402$285,100$226 Very close on everything we compare
North Jackson, OH 44451 88%446$61,250$241,100$193 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Markleville, IN 46056 88%707$72,423$229,600$207 cheaper homes ($42K less) · more single-family 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.