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 Wells, ME 04090

Wells: median income $88,024, home value $485,300, $380/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mashpee, MA 02649 94%117$95,299$562,200$420 pricier homes ($77K more)
Santa Fe, NM 87506 90%1,939$96,511$611,800$464 pricier homes ($127K more)
Hampstead, NH 03841 89%42$104,044$510,100$307 smaller
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 89%1,950$84,270$486,000$342 6 min shorter commute
Flagler Beach, FL 32136 88%1,119$78,818$471,000$280 older residents
Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 88%1,758$91,452$483,200$281 smaller · older residents
Fairview, NC 28730 87%827$102,900$433,300$267 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Seneca, SC 29672 87%886$90,650$482,100$271 5 min shorter commute
Suttons Bay, MI 49682 87%754$97,813$396,500$369 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Palisade, CO 81526 87%1,968$87,500$501,800$337 smaller · more renters
Calverton, NY 11933 86%198$74,195$444,100$400 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Selbyville, DE 19975 86%411$88,568$462,700$280 older residents · newer homes
Berlin, MD 21811 85%419$90,082$388,900$265 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger
Bigfork, MT 59911 85%2,095$83,019$666,400$456 pricier homes ($181K more) · more single-family homes
Mesa, AZ 85215 85%2,303$98,831$441,000$278 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Terrebonne, OR 97760 85%2,483$87,603$486,700$359 Very close on everything we compare
Montrose, CO 81403 84%1,965$80,893$515,300$311 pricier homes ($30K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Grass Valley, CA 95949 84%2,600$98,181$550,800$302 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Jacksonville, OR 97530 84%2,617$89,239$617,400$313 pricier homes ($132K more) · younger residents · more renters
Charlestown, RI 02813 83%143$109,404$525,500$412 pricier homes ($40K more) · more single-family homes
Meredith, NH 03253 83%50$84,719$482,700$354 smaller · more renters · older homes
Wolfeboro, NH 03894 83%36$94,349$548,600$347 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller · more renters
Ocean Isle Beach, NC 28469 83%776$90,684$463,200$244 older residents · newer homes
Banner Elk, NC 28604 83%774$76,319$383,800$327 cheaper homes ($102K less) · younger residents
Greensboro, GA 30642 83%955$95,527$496,400$262 Very close on everything we compare

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.