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 Bethlehem, NH 03574

Bethlehem: median income $81,250, home value $288,300, $191/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Randolph, VT 05060 95%54$77,317$255,500$200 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
South Royalton, VT 05068 94%53$80,911$298,600$226 Very close on everything we compare
Green Lake, WI 54941 94%857$79,146$276,000$239 Very close on everything we compare
Washburn, WI 54891 92%944$70,536$208,800$194 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Munroe Falls, OH 44262 91%540$81,214$250,800$158 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Frankenmuth, MI 48734 91%604$91,032$305,100$174 larger
Manchester, ME 04351 90%90$92,031$299,600$210 younger residents
Putney, VT 05346 90%96$79,118$320,800$202 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Pennsylvania Furnace, PA 16865 90%405$77,717$270,700$208 more single-family homes
Omaha, NE 68152 89%1,245$84,958$316,400$162 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Lewiston, NY 14092 88%374$72,218$279,900$199 larger
Bellaire, MI 49615 88%667$79,469$292,300$251 larger · older residents
Spring Green, WI 53588 88%919$83,417$292,300$232 Very close on everything we compare
Wilmington, VT 05363 87%113$68,843$284,200$196 older residents · more walkable
East Berlin, CT 06023 87%192$100,317$342,600$242 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Trumansburg, NY 14886 87%278$82,000$238,500$207 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Landisville, PA 17538 87%377$86,719$299,300$188 larger
Archbald, PA 18403 87%274$77,521$223,900$156 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Sundance, WY 82729 87%1,605$89,306$308,400$204 older residents
Dalton, MA 01226 86%145$79,438$295,700$184 larger · older homes
Callicoon, NY 12723 86%243$77,313$235,900$275 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 5 min longer commute
Centre Hall, PA 16828 86%387$76,468$273,800$192 larger
Chattanooga, TN 37419 86%966$74,787$351,800$245 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger
Clear Lake, IA 50428 86%1,084$81,037$283,400$232 larger
Milford, IA 51351 86%1,169$73,824$273,100$184 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.