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 Brownfield, ME 04010

Brownfield: median income $60,889, home value $287,500, $265/sq ft, 44-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Meansville, GA 30256 87%1,044$73,571$299,000$200 larger
Readyville, TN 37149 87%986$78,345$402,900$268 pricier homes ($115K more)
De Beque, CO 81630 87%1,937$64,875$269,400$234 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Fairfield, ID 83327 87%2,168$66,250$287,900$196 smaller
Grafton, NH 03240 86%58$81,563$267,300$223 Very close on everything we compare
Machipongo, VA 23405 86%522$59,663$341,800$241 pricier homes ($54K more) · 5 min longer commute
Titus, AL 36080 86%1,134$70,703$231,300$184 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Bedias, TX 77831 86%1,642$58,229$195,200$217 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger
Ledbetter, TX 78946 86%1,699$65,221$315,800— pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Campo, CA 91906 86%2,556$62,500$327,600$294 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · older residents
Pahala, HI 96777 86%5,043$64,643$233,200$239 cheaper homes ($54K less) · younger residents · older homes
Alberton, MT 59820 85%2,095$69,091$367,400$285 pricier homes ($80K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Ethel, LA 70730 85%1,426$64,977$254,600$212 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Celeste, TX 75423 85%1,543$59,375$252,900$199 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Pierce, CO 80650 85%1,733$57,083$393,200$229 pricier homes ($106K more) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Hillsboro, WV 24946 84%632$60,625$227,000— cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · older residents
Springfield, WV 26763 84%507$68,384$261,500$186 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Salvisa, KY 40372 84%837$74,205$229,800$189 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Crystal, MI 48818 84%701$55,924$191,700$259 cheaper homes ($96K less) · older homes
Freeman, MO 64746 84%1,274$79,682$275,000$203 Very close on everything we compare
Coulterville, CA 95311 84%2,570$56,029$316,000$251 pricier homes ($29K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Vernonia, OR 97064 84%2,516$67,317$383,600$298 pricier homes ($96K more) · larger
Boyers, PA 16020 83%498$74,135$207,000— cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Knotts Island, NC 27950 83%577$88,250$290,300$255 higher income ($27K more)
Shipman, VA 22971 82%593$79,135$319,000$260 pricier homes ($32K more) · 6 min shorter commute

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.