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 Casco, ME 04015

Casco: median income $69,313, home value $355,500, $316/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cascade, MT 59421 93%1,980$78,125$377,900$267 smaller
Brookfield, MA 01506 92%145$81,250$341,900$267 Very close on everything we compare
Fleetwood, NC 28626 92%785$73,675$291,900$292 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Townville, SC 29689 92%927$72,951$341,600$264 5 min longer commute
Merrifield, MN 56465 92%1,158$74,400$372,100$337 more single-family homes
Deming, WA 98244 92%2,433$67,159$447,000$394 pricier homes ($92K more)
Maggie Valley, NC 28751 91%885$69,057$313,500$292 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older residents
Worton, MD 21678 90%432$71,023$319,000$266 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Moncure, NC 27559 90%732$74,490$385,000$233 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Rising Fawn, GA 30738 90%1,017$66,080$284,700$224 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Beulah, MI 49617 90%766$74,207$304,000$352 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Rapid City, MI 49676 90%731$75,781$269,300$290 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Rocky Mount, MO 65072 90%1,215$78,750$335,700$286 smaller
Cove, OR 97824 90%2,293$80,263$413,700$267 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
Swanton, MD 21561 89%545$73,858$328,700$295 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · older residents
Saluda, NC 28773 89%869$70,703$413,700$319 pricier homes ($58K more) · more single-family homes
Dadeville, AL 36853 89%1,125$73,594$292,200$352 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Townsend, MT 59644 89%1,981$68,811$361,500$300 Very close on everything we compare
Loon Lake, WA 99148 89%2,242$67,431$429,900$336 pricier homes ($74K more) · 6 min longer commute
Bristol, NH 03222 88%66$81,587$313,000$348 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Calverton, NY 11933 88%238$74,195$444,100$400 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger
Spring Mills, PA 16875 88%418$71,250$307,700$211 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Lake Toxaway, NC 28747 88%896$66,000$294,600$368 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Little Mountain, SC 29075 88%892$75,884$257,400$217 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Catawba, SC 29704 88%838$74,303$243,800$240 cheaper homes ($112K less)

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.