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 Hallowell, ME 04347

Hallowell: median income $68,398, home value $295,300, $191/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saranac Lake, NY 12983 76%214$65,985$225,200$260 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · younger residents
Fayetteville, NC 28305 74%799$78,148$260,900$175 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · younger residents
Bellows Falls, VT 05101 72%154$70,299$209,100$139 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Turners Falls, MA 01376 71%181$55,652$249,400$223 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · younger residents
Akron, OH 44303 70%634$69,743$236,200$136 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · younger residents
Mobile, AL 36604 69%1,367$66,357$249,300$170 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · younger residents
Greenfield, MA 01301 68%183$56,176$265,300$222 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · younger residents
Funkstown, MD 21734 68%518$61,392$277,800$201 smaller · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Dalton, MA 01226 67%210$79,438$295,700$184 larger · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Cooperstown, NY 13326 66%279$80,040$340,100$240 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · more homeowners
Moosic, PA 18507 65%360$75,395$266,700$165 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · younger residents
New Britain, CT 06052 64%236$80,506$260,000$179 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · younger residents
Syracuse, NY 13224 64%326$76,500$218,900$197 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger · younger residents
New Orleans, LA 70121 64%1,488$59,562$247,900$175 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · younger residents
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 63%188$81,008$354,600$202 pricier homes ($59K more) · 14 min longer commute · newer homes
Rochester, NY 14610 63%395$85,961$258,500$212 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · younger residents
Mont Clare, PA 19453 63%409$80,583$270,600$244 smaller · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Windsor, VT 05089 62%141$55,633$228,100$242 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Cincinnati, OH 45213 62%830$76,356$286,100$212 larger · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Lee, MA 01238 61%220$84,591$355,700$297 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · more homeowners
Brattleboro, VT 05301 61%171$65,910$270,900$220 larger · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Clinton, NY 13323 61%291$78,224$244,600$193 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · younger residents
South Bend, IN 46617 61%848$74,186$243,400$253 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · younger residents
Rutland, VT 05701 60%164$61,610$217,700$192 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · more walkable
Saint Johnsbury, VT 05819 60%109$62,411$197,500$171 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · younger residents

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.