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 Brunswick, ME 04011

Brunswick: median income $74,952, home value $376,300, $301/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Nashville, TN 37214 91%1,029$72,012$340,900$243 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Tampa, FL 33618 90%1,294$84,788$415,800$236 pricier homes ($40K more)
Grafton, WI 53024 90%898$92,390$366,300$244 Very close on everything we compare
Southern Pines, NC 28387 88%783$74,830$410,800$226 pricier homes ($35K more) · more renters
Essex Junction, VT 05452 87%160$101,349$432,400$265 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($56K more)
Asheville, NC 28805 87%876$75,151$412,500$281 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents
Knoxville, TN 37923 87%926$73,699$333,000$213 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Tucson, AZ 85745 87%2,345$71,348$342,700$244 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
White River Junction, VT 05001 86%121$78,092$296,900$271 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Traverse City, MI 49686 86%774$71,609$344,700$289 cheaper homes ($32K less) · older residents
Colchester, VT 05446 85%166$97,475$393,200$282 Very close on everything we compare
Maitland, FL 32751 85%1,228$95,387$453,700$291 pricier homes ($77K more)
Tampa, FL 33624 85%1,295$87,760$386,100$252 larger
Petoskey, MI 49770 85%740$79,590$355,200$275 older residents · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Troy, MI 48083 84%667$90,794$315,800$199 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Tucson, AZ 85704 84%2,340$81,696$423,900$232 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · older residents
Henrico, VA 23238 83%588$101,523$420,500$241 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($44K more) · more renters
Lexington, VA 24450 83%650$76,587$305,100$225 cheaper homes ($71K less) · more single-family homes
Banner Elk, NC 28604 83%822$76,319$383,800$327 smaller · older residents
Nashville, TN 37221 83%1,046$97,751$463,900$247 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger
Pewaukee, WI 53072 83%917$98,538$437,800$252 pricier homes ($62K more) · older residents
Lake Geneva, WI 53147 83%932$83,566$369,100$287 older residents
Saint Paul, MN 55122 83%1,146$96,823$356,600$200 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Charles, IL 60174 83%936$104,534$362,200$254 higher income ($30K more)
Fort Collins, CO 80524 83%1,795$85,035$561,400$274 pricier homes ($185K more) · 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.