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 Lewiston, ME 04240

Lewiston: median income $55,393, home value $235,100, $196/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kenosha, WI 53140 94%890$58,006$206,700$190 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Norwich, CT 06360 91%201$65,539$245,700$203 Very close on everything we compare
Watertown, NY 13601 89%284$58,791$172,600$144 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Green Bay, WI 54303 89%883$60,781$178,600$179 cheaper homes ($57K less)
New Britain, CT 06053 88%212$62,645$220,800$214 more walkable
Westland, MI 48185 88%675$60,854$194,000$167 cheaper homes ($41K less) · newer homes
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 87%251$63,652$301,700$229 pricier homes ($67K more)
Martinsburg, WV 25401 87%513$51,909$229,200$173 smaller
Louisville, KY 40214 87%907$54,931$184,600$146 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Chambersburg, PA 17201 86%479$61,234$227,800$162 newer homes
Williamsport, PA 17701 86%398$53,237$183,900$127 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Louisville, KY 40219 86%904$55,720$204,200$167 cheaper homes ($31K less) · newer homes
Sheboygan, WI 53081 86%871$64,042$180,100$178 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Green Bay, WI 54302 86%878$58,506$175,300$169 cheaper homes ($60K less) · newer homes
Claremont, NH 03743 85%119$59,625$206,600$190 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · older residents
Meriden, CT 06451 85%221$71,255$239,800$217 smaller
Lebanon, PA 17046 85%410$62,221$191,000$167 cheaper homes ($44K less) · more homeowners
Hagerstown, MD 21740 85%496$62,873$262,300$174 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Columbus, OH 43229 85%711$57,561$228,200$180 more walkable · newer homes
Green Bay, WI 54304 85%881$63,865$220,600$192 newer homes
Fond Du Lac, WI 54935 85%906$63,144$180,200$169 cheaper homes ($55K less) · more single-family homes
Billings, MT 59101 85%1,859$58,598$268,700$214 pricier homes ($34K more) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Great Falls, MT 59405 85%1,969$59,449$250,100$194 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Galveston, TX 77551 85%1,695$58,344$290,600$200 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller · newer homes
East Hartford, CT 06108 84%202$56,663$230,500$205 smaller · more walkable

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.