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 Center Harbor, NH 03226

Center Harbor: median income $107,500, home value $462,800, $290/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Round Top, TX 78954 90%1,675$103,750$427,300$399 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Wayne, ME 04284 87%83$93,194$362,800$269 cheaper homes ($100K less) · 6 min longer commute
Wentworth, SD 57075 87%1,265$106,763$426,800$287 cheaper homes ($36K less) · less walkable
Rough And Ready, CA 95975 87%2,552$103,216$652,600$292 pricier homes ($190K more)
North Hero, VT 05474 86%118$102,143$451,400$404 younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Sonoita, AZ 85637 86%2,271$99,688$467,100$280 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Conway, MA 01341 84%103$97,417$396,400$257 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Georgetown, ME 04548 84%87$84,250$427,200$321 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 6 min longer commute
Londonderry, VT 05148 84%74$105,795$385,300$220 cheaper homes ($78K less) · younger residents
Chestertown, NY 12817 84%116$93,393$327,600$316 cheaper homes ($135K less) · larger
Empire, MI 49630 84%722$106,375$497,600$336 pricier homes ($35K more) · newer homes
Rocheport, MO 65279 84%1,135$103,516$332,700$211 cheaper homes ($130K less) · larger · younger residents
White Stone, VA 22578 83%488$80,783$441,600$252 lower income ($27K less) · larger
Hazelhurst, WI 54531 83%906$84,286$344,900$286 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Waterloo, NE 68069 83%1,271$111,974$365,100$254 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · younger residents
Arnold, CA 95223 83%2,534$106,694$476,000$289 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Port Republic, NJ 08241 82%328$123,438$462,100$241 younger residents
Rock Hill, NY 12775 82%214$112,600$398,400$228 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · younger residents
Lakeland, MN 55043 82%1,053$102,966$383,500$227 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger · younger residents
Laporte, CO 80535 82%1,725$110,945$483,300$309 larger · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Reedville, VA 22539 81%476$89,200$411,400$302 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · older residents
Nisswa, MN 56468 81%1,125$100,300$465,800$372 larger · younger residents
Pilot Hill, CA 95664 81%2,557$117,901$506,500$302 pricier homes ($44K more) · 8 min longer commute
La Conner, WA 98257 81%2,423$94,425$506,200$300 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · more renters
Haydenville, MA 01039 80%111$116,429$423,100$403 cheaper homes ($40K less) · younger residents · older 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.