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.

Reset

Towns most like Tamworth, NH 03886

Tamworth: median income $74,450, home value $368,200, $274/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Battle Lake, MN 56515 97%1,200$73,750$398,500$251 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Sheridan, MT 59749 93%1,992$80,238$382,400$332 Very close on everything we compare
Mackay, ID 83251 93%2,085$73,482$366,900$286 newer homes
Boulder Junction, WI 54512 90%909$75,147$294,500$338 cheaper homes ($74K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Ottertail, MN 56571 90%1,192$85,865$363,100$291 Very close on everything we compare
Austin, CO 81410 90%1,920$67,826$366,700$213 Very close on everything we compare
Dubois, WY 82513 90%1,900$66,332$382,600$330 6 min shorter commute
Rock Hall, MD 21661 89%415$90,492$283,200$304 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger
Tower, MN 55790 89%1,045$77,232$328,900$339 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Westwood, CA 96137 89%2,525$65,896$414,900$322 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Margaretville, NY 12455 88%205$85,926$255,100$264 cheaper homes ($113K less)
Pentwater, MI 49449 88%753$80,917$307,300$278 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Friendship, ME 04547 87%96$75,625$275,000$242 cheaper homes ($93K less) · younger residents
White Stone, VA 22578 87%503$80,783$441,600$252 pricier homes ($73K more)
Frankfort, MI 49635 87%741$72,422$366,700$263 larger
Hazelhurst, WI 54531 87%913$84,286$344,900$286 more homeowners
Lake Tomahawk, WI 54539 87%906$62,841$282,200$246 cheaper homes ($86K less) · younger residents
Mercer, WI 54547 87%930$63,500$306,600$296 cheaper homes ($62K less) · newer homes
Custer, SD 57730 87%1,595$83,469$378,800$279 larger
Roach, MO 65787 87%1,193$62,917$314,500$254 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Crawford, CO 81415 87%1,905$59,141$330,900$333 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Cascade Locks, OR 97014 87%2,444$75,000$387,700$246 younger residents
Lakeside, OR 97449 87%2,595$66,000$316,700$272 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Penobscot, ME 04476 86%133$63,194$296,400$280 cheaper homes ($72K less) · younger residents
Craryville, NY 12521 86%168$75,652$338,700$290 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents

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.