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 Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064

Old Orchard Beach: median income $59,887, home value $361,700, $370/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Taos, NM 87571 88%1,912$57,575$458,900$359 pricier homes ($97K more) · more single-family homes
North Conway, NH 03860 87%51$71,759$401,500$281 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Osage Beach, MO 65065 86%1,218$60,785$371,600$263 Very close on everything we compare
Jensen Beach, FL 34957 84%1,252$70,403$416,700$330 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Ludlow, VT 05149 83%116$64,191$365,300$300 smaller
Lakeside, AZ 85929 82%2,204$62,752$306,900$290 cheaper homes ($55K less) · more single-family homes
Seabrook, NH 03874 81%50$82,995$446,100$351 pricier homes ($84K more)
Morrisville, VT 05661 81%131$67,052$304,700$264 cheaper homes ($57K less) · younger residents
Cape Charles, VA 23310 81%522$62,500$377,300$318 smaller · more single-family homes
Chincoteague Island, VA 23336 81%466$63,464$346,700$288 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Beaufort, NC 28516 81%691$66,057$315,400$270 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more single-family homes
Brevard, NC 28712 81%873$63,045$414,300$299 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Palm Harbor, FL 34684 81%1,268$72,145$342,400$253 larger · 5 min longer commute
Phoenix, OR 97535 81%2,610$66,052$418,400$264 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller
Morehead City, NC 28557 80%697$68,528$362,800$249 larger · younger residents
Myrtle Beach, SC 29575 79%825$71,447$305,700$235 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Panama City Beach, FL 32413 78%1,248$80,039$441,300$334 pricier homes ($80K more) · larger · newer homes
Grand Junction, CO 81506 78%1,986$78,651$448,300$263 pricier homes ($87K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Mount Shasta, CA 96067 78%2,610$65,000$415,400$247 pricier homes ($54K more) · more single-family homes
Center Conway, NH 03813 77%46$56,951$252,200$330 cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Delmont, PA 15626 77%518$61,103$241,800$203 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Gulf Shores, AL 36542 77%1,321$79,639$383,500$317 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Diamond Springs, CA 95619 77%2,606$66,429$373,900$321 smaller
Bandon, OR 97411 77%2,666$50,993$455,800$358 pricier homes ($94K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Brookings, OR 97415 77%2,686$69,152$394,800$316 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · 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.