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 Rumford, ME 04276

Rumford: median income $38,403, home value $127,700, $110/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Berlin, NH 03570 89%31$45,180$131,000$98 larger · younger residents
Luzerne, PA 18709 89%351$42,135$113,600$96 smaller
Bellaire, OH 43906 85%607$46,380$113,900$83 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Morris, IL 61054 85%962$47,467$121,400$103 smaller
Rouses Point, NY 12979 82%141$45,850$190,900$130 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller
Sheffield, AL 35660 82%1,131$40,065$135,400$113 larger · more single-family homes · newer homes
Herkimer, NY 13350 81%244$56,157$136,800$108 larger
Westfield, NY 14787 80%477$53,587$118,400$113 5 min shorter commute
Renovo, PA 17764 80%425$41,173$83,800$95 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Springfield, OH 45506 80%749$42,104$107,300$102 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Binghamton, NY 13904 79%315$53,984$121,100$106 larger · younger residents
Salamanca, NY 14779 79%442$42,593$85,900$104 cheaper homes ($42K less) · younger residents
Titusville, PA 16354 78%502$48,963$102,500$83 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Hampton, IA 50441 78%1,135$49,910$127,100$102 more single-family homes
Watseka, IL 60970 77%908$46,688$119,900$85 more single-family homes · newer homes
Bath, NY 14810 76%370$51,950$112,200$116 larger · newer homes
Rochester, PA 15074 76%559$54,063$145,400$106 Very close on everything we compare
Plymouth, PA 18651 76%355$41,990$97,600$79 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents
Clifton Forge, VA 24422 76%668$48,750$113,400$80 more walkable
Savanna, IL 61074 76%996$50,691$91,500$84 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more single-family homes
Springhill, LA 71075 76%1,461$40,246$100,800$81 cheaper homes ($27K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Waverly, NY 14892 75%347$54,043$139,000$117 newer homes
Philipsburg, PA 16866 75%463$49,968$150,300$125 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Marion, VA 24354 75%783$44,502$158,100$119 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · newer homes
Martins Ferry, OH 43935 75%603$45,923$103,600$82 younger residents · more single-family homes

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.