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 North Conway, NH 03860

North Conway: median income $71,759, home value $401,500, $281/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064 87%51$59,887$361,700$370 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Belfast, ME 04915 87%108$66,362$308,700$271 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger
Osage Beach, MO 65065 87%1,189$60,785$371,600$263 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Borrego Springs, CA 92004 87%2,518$74,018$390,400$204 Very close on everything we compare
Cape Charles, VA 23310 85%531$62,500$377,300$318 more single-family homes
Chincoteague Island, VA 23336 83%476$63,464$346,700$288 cheaper homes ($55K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Ludlow, VT 05149 82%90$64,191$365,300$300 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller · younger residents
Phoenix, OR 97535 82%2,565$66,052$418,400$264 more walkable · newer homes
Columbus, NC 28722 81%844$67,760$307,300$225 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Columbia, CA 95310 81%2,562$54,697$434,800$255 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Bokeelia, FL 33922 80%1,348$71,164$355,800$269 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more homeowners
Mount Shasta, CA 96067 80%2,566$65,000$415,400$247 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Beaufort, NC 28516 79%705$66,057$315,400$270 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Diamond Springs, CA 95619 79%2,564$66,429$373,900$321 cheaper homes ($28K less) · younger residents
Long Beach, WA 98631 79%2,533$71,705$409,400$335 more homeowners · more walkable
Ellicottville, NY 14731 78%398$67,583$286,800$287 cheaper homes ($115K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Lakeside, AZ 85929 78%2,170$62,752$306,900$290 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · younger residents
Blue Lake, CA 95525 78%2,651$57,379$478,600$224 pricier homes ($77K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Selkirk, NY 12158 77%170$97,419$315,100$242 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger
Okoboji, IA 51355 77%1,196$72,262$421,100$340 smaller · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Sister Bay, WI 54234 77%789$74,583$456,300$339 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Minocqua, WI 54548 77%918$69,569$336,400$288 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Grand Junction, CO 81506 77%1,947$78,651$448,300$263 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · younger residents
Delmont, PA 15626 76%499$61,103$241,800$203 cheaper homes ($160K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Panacea, FL 32346 76%1,211$61,700$267,200$257 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller · more homeowners

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.