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 Brownville, ME 04414

Brownville: median income $69,500, home value $148,100, $243/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Zion Grove, PA 17985 94%473$71,979$179,700$226 pricier homes ($32K more)
Orr, MN 55771 92%1,139$67,667$169,100$260 younger residents
Sardis, OH 43946 91%721$62,832$127,700$209 Very close on everything we compare
National City, MI 48748 91%720$58,750$161,800$201 5 min longer commute
Osseo, MI 49266 90%814$66,173$170,800$204 larger
Wausaukee, WI 54177 90%914$62,991$166,800$208 larger
Mc Millan, MI 49853 89%805$54,563$166,400$214 Very close on everything we compare
West Valley, NY 14171 88%518$75,625$178,800$218 pricier homes ($31K more) · younger residents
Mecosta, MI 49332 88%804$59,509$182,300$237 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Rock, MI 49880 88%873$64,013$157,400$222 smaller · younger residents
Keosauqua, IA 52565 88%1,196$62,992$149,000$202 7 min shorter commute
Argonne, WI 54511 88%955$66,719$172,700$189 younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Golconda, IL 62938 88%1,145$63,780$113,500$229 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Millersburg, MI 49759 87%729$56,944$181,300$206 pricier homes ($33K more)
Butternut, WI 54514 87%1,033$70,769$165,000$216 6 min shorter commute
Embarrass, MN 55732 87%1,109$64,750$178,700$192 pricier homes ($31K more) · younger residents
Middlesex, NY 14507 86%448$77,273$160,800$169 more apartments and townhomes
Venus, PA 16364 86%592$74,886$183,500— pricier homes ($35K more) · younger residents
Ashville, PA 16613 86%582$73,785$159,300$219 younger residents
Frenchville, PA 16836 86%547$62,841$131,700$210 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Dushore, PA 18614 86%454$68,864$190,000$157 pricier homes ($42K more)
Rock Cave, WV 26234 86%734$61,250$206,500— pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
Powers, MI 49874 86%894$62,500$193,900$220 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Pound, WI 54161 86%927$68,415$190,500$184 pricier homes ($42K more) · younger residents
Suring, WI 54174 86%939$69,878$187,700$225 pricier homes ($40K more) · 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.