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 Henniker, NH 03242

Henniker: median income $95,206, home value $356,700, $258/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bridgewater, VA 22812 88%500$85,941$366,900$206 larger
Willington, CT 06279 85%91$91,114$305,800$233 cheaper homes ($51K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Leola, PA 17540 85%310$91,895$339,200$185 larger · older residents
Pella, IA 50219 85%1,082$86,807$301,400$239 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · older residents
Valparaiso, FL 32580 84%1,190$91,645$394,700$257 pricier homes ($38K more) · more single-family homes
Waterbury, VT 05676 83%94$92,773$380,800$269 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Des Moines, IA 50321 82%1,118$80,351$320,500$212 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Kalona, IA 52247 82%1,020$91,450$298,900$151 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Afton, WY 83110 82%1,961$86,731$381,100$250 5 min shorter commute
Manville, RI 02838 81%85$97,273$372,300$219 smaller · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Hanahan, SC 29410 81%837$87,984$374,800$250 larger · older residents · newer homes
Port Washington, WI 53074 81%807$79,423$296,600$233 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · older residents
Lake Mills, WI 53551 81%861$94,401$357,400$229 larger · older residents
River Falls, WI 54022 81%1,038$96,642$373,100$203 larger · newer homes
Hamden, CT 06518 80%134$106,692$325,300$212 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · more walkable
Latham, NY 12110 80%103$105,024$340,100$264 larger · older residents
Dryden, NY 13053 80%232$83,021$244,000$202 cheaper homes ($113K less) · older residents
Lansing, NY 14882 80%243$91,960$318,700$214 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older residents
Hales Corners, WI 53130 80%818$87,008$308,000$243 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older residents · more walkable
Volga, SD 57071 80%1,251$77,138$246,000— cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller
Laurel, MT 59044 80%1,815$87,648$346,500$231 larger · older residents
White River Junction, VT 05001 79%44$78,092$296,900$271 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · older residents
Newport News, VA 23603 79%484$88,246$293,300$189 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Le Claire, IA 52753 79%951$103,813$328,700$215 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Northfield, MN 55057 79%1,065$92,622$363,600$193 larger

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.