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 Mechanic Falls, ME 04256

Mechanic Falls: median income $69,914, home value $270,900, $213/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Richfield, NC 28137 96%795$67,163$252,700$215 Very close on everything we compare
South Rockwood, MI 48179 94%664$77,095$232,800$226 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Rush City, MN 55069 94%1,106$75,179$281,700$240 larger
Glenrock, WY 82637 94%1,768$80,038$278,800$193 Very close on everything we compare
Big Piney, WY 83113 94%1,978$75,385$282,100$215 Very close on everything we compare
Duchesne, UT 84021 94%2,048$73,819$271,500$209 Very close on everything we compare
Montague, CA 96064 94%2,596$61,157$262,400$186 Very close on everything we compare
Hurlock, MD 21643 93%472$67,219$230,000$183 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Parsonsburg, MD 21849 93%475$71,211$249,200$213 Very close on everything we compare
Clear Lake, WI 54005 93%1,075$87,813$274,300$206 Very close on everything we compare
Moose Lake, MN 55767 93%1,095$78,988$247,300$198 Very close on everything we compare
Pinehurst, ID 83850 93%2,189$67,574$297,800$253 pricier homes ($27K more)
Huntington, UT 84528 93%2,097$71,053$206,100— cheaper homes ($65K less)
Algodones, NM 87001 93%1,985$68,547$215,800— cheaper homes ($55K less)
Enosburg Falls, VT 05450 92%130$72,875$271,800$203 larger · 6 min longer commute
Bainbridge, PA 17502 92%424$72,776$233,000$235 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Mount Pleasant Mills, PA 17853 92%411$63,787$225,900$279 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Timberville, VA 22853 92%575$67,083$245,800$248 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Stuart, IA 50250 92%1,222$71,083$210,400$203 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Westfield, WI 53964 92%948$69,306$217,600$196 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Bloomer, WI 54724 92%1,037$72,391$244,700$177 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Cadott, WI 54727 92%1,022$81,575$228,500$183 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Fairview, MT 59221 92%1,631$77,115$243,600$230 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Boulder, MT 59632 92%2,014$68,750$278,800$180 Very close on everything we compare
Filer, ID 83328 92%2,198$70,851$331,300$258 pricier homes ($60K 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.