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 Jefferson, ME 04348

Jefferson: median income $78,929, home value $286,300, $226/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Aspers, PA 17304 95%492$84,885$248,000$216 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Clarksville, MI 48815 95%793$85,962$244,200$213 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Cedar Hill, TN 37032 94%1,059$88,157$287,200$256 larger
Dresser, WI 54009 94%1,129$89,861$249,300$198 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Cohasset, MN 55721 94%1,177$86,429$302,300$221 Very close on everything we compare
Atglen, PA 19310 93%443$82,371$315,700$231 pricier homes ($29K more)
Linwood, KS 66052 93%1,361$82,411$340,200$212 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Zebulon, GA 30295 92%1,105$81,667$279,200$180 larger
Jay, FL 32565 92%1,328$84,432$239,500$200 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Molino, FL 32577 92%1,349$73,998$256,500$227 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Buckley, MI 49620 92%798$75,192$225,000$224 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Archie, MO 64725 92%1,342$84,722$232,100$180 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Preston, MD 21655 91%503$90,385$289,200$221 older residents
Mount Pleasant, NC 28124 91%838$80,778$310,500$224 larger · older residents
Stanfield, NC 28163 91%850$72,386$313,900$195 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Catawba, NC 28609 91%848$77,679$245,900$190 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Raymond, OH 43067 91%761$95,903$303,100$194 smaller
Sunman, IN 47041 91%872$81,016$287,400$179 larger · older residents
Horton, MI 49246 91%768$81,908$254,100$241 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Kingsley, MI 49649 91%790$74,656$267,700$193 larger
Trevor, WI 53179 91%941$94,460$305,800$221 larger
Arena, WI 53503 91%1,021$87,361$239,900$198 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · older residents
Rockland, WI 54653 91%1,060$72,596$264,200$240 smaller
Dassel, MN 55325 91%1,216$87,137$307,600$184 Very close on everything we compare
Saginaw, MN 55779 91%1,118$93,792$282,900$263 older 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.