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 Effingham, NH 03882

Effingham: median income $76,607, home value $322,700, $294/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Elliottsburg, PA 17024 96%396$79,292$295,100$308 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Zumbro Falls, MN 55991 95%1,064$82,292$350,000$270 pricier homes ($27K more)
Pleasant Mount, PA 18453 94%262$85,110$325,000$260 Very close on everything we compare
Tafton, PA 18464 94%266$77,277$312,600$253 Very close on everything we compare
Balsam Lake, WI 54810 94%1,059$69,917$271,600$263 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Auberry, CA 93602 93%2,555$78,016$370,700$221 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Oak Run, CA 96069 93%2,580$71,250$381,900$239 pricier homes ($59K more)
Wales, MA 01081 92%129$86,979$296,800$324 cheaper homes ($26K less) · younger residents
Darlington, MD 21034 92%389$78,047$401,500$218 pricier homes ($79K more)
Topping, VA 23169 92%510$71,964$247,900$264 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller
Silver Lake, WI 53170 92%868$79,931$284,400$237 cheaper homes ($38K less)
McCammon, ID 83250 92%2,056$73,555$322,000$217 Very close on everything we compare
Princeton, ID 83857 92%2,207$78,185$335,300$374 smaller
Greenville, CA 95947 92%2,538$82,500$339,400$275 5 min shorter commute
Oakville, WA 98568 92%2,503$84,531$426,200$315 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger
Entiat, WA 98822 92%2,354$86,103$383,600$340 pricier homes ($61K more)
Steep Falls, ME 04085 91%18$92,246$288,600$253 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Earlton, NY 12058 91%175$85,469$273,500— cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · older residents
Worton, MD 21678 91%403$71,023$319,000$266 Very close on everything we compare
Clayton, WI 54004 91%1,045$68,182$240,600$345 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Mindoro, WI 54644 91%998$77,143$256,500$234 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Idaho City, ID 83631 91%2,203$80,714$409,800$264 pricier homes ($87K more)
Limington, ME 04049 90%15$84,675$295,600$257 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Litchfield, ME 04350 90%60$84,904$243,900$264 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger
Cordova, MD 21625 90%423$83,250$372,200$374 pricier homes ($50K more)

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.