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 Dennis, MA 02638

Dennis: median income $108,726, home value $827,900, $478/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Moultonborough, NH 03254 89%151$106,440$641,300$374 cheaper homes ($187K less) · larger
Saint Michaels, MD 21663 86%378$89,775$650,500$438 cheaper homes ($177K less)
Meadow Vista, CA 95722 86%2,644$125,625$697,800$369 cheaper homes ($130K less) · 7 min longer commute
Tybee Island, GA 31328 85%892$109,631$619,800$427 cheaper homes ($208K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Cambria, CA 93428 84%2,739$99,762$932,500$691 pricier homes ($105K more) · larger
Eastsound, WA 98245 82%2,558$95,811$772,600$590 cheaper homes ($55K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Wolfeboro, NH 03894 81%138$94,349$548,600$347 cheaper homes ($279K less) · larger
Edisto Island, SC 29438 81%843$86,979$642,400$452 cheaper homes ($186K less) · newer homes
Sisters, OR 97759 81%2,556$102,734$777,700$425 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · younger residents
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949 80%491$120,662$677,600$403 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger · younger residents
Nags Head, NC 27959 80%498$91,264$490,800$424 cheaper homes ($337K less)
Kewadin, MI 49648 80%793$93,272$633,500$414 cheaper homes ($194K less) · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Lake Leelanau, MI 49653 80%811$85,787$669,800$386 cheaper homes ($158K less) · smaller
Genoa, NV 89411 80%2,582$121,981$1,003,200$421 pricier homes ($175K more) · smaller · newer homes
East Quogue, NY 11942 79%138$93,710$844,100$675 larger · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Orient, NY 11957 79%116$94,261$973,700$588 pricier homes ($146K more) · smaller
Freeland, WA 98249 79%2,550$99,519$627,400$404 cheaper homes ($201K less) · 9 min longer commute · newer homes
Ogunquit, ME 03907 78%107$114,259$875,700$595 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Mattituck, NY 11952 78%132$120,139$764,300$531 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · younger residents
Northport, MI 49670 78%807$116,133$559,200$483 cheaper homes ($269K less) · smaller
Newcastle, CA 95658 78%2,653$126,581$837,700$450 larger · younger residents
Bow, WA 98232 78%2,537$104,559$782,200$529 cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
York, ME 03909 77%101$115,608$638,400$414 cheaper homes ($190K less) · larger · younger residents
La Conner, WA 98257 77%2,544$94,425$506,200$300 cheaper homes ($322K less)
Charlestown, RI 02813 76%79$109,404$525,500$412 cheaper homes ($302K less) · larger · younger 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.