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 Charleston, ME 04422

Charleston: median income $75,250, home value $226,500, $178/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bryant, WI 54418 93%968$80,000$195,100— cheaper homes ($31K less)
Scandinavia, WI 54977 93%983$81,328$249,300$180 Very close on everything we compare
Bellwood, NE 68624 93%1,435$69,167$195,000$218 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Prospect, PA 16052 92%624$81,739$247,100$203 larger
Newport, OH 45768 92%734$84,286$204,400$176 Very close on everything we compare
Sidney, MI 48885 92%804$71,389$200,500$186 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older homes
Westboro, WI 54490 92%1,030$67,981$190,600$182 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Iron, MN 55751 92%1,132$75,200$202,400$172 Very close on everything we compare
Kellogg, MN 55945 92%1,129$80,284$235,200$176 Very close on everything we compare
Blanket, TX 76432 92%1,838$69,688$216,700$147 Very close on everything we compare
Milan, NH 03588 91%108$71,538$253,500$155 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents
Fenelton, PA 16034 91%611$88,300$214,300$236 larger
Jackson Center, PA 16133 91%613$76,713$201,200$192 cheaper homes ($25K less)
New Galilee, PA 16141 91%641$73,910$173,300$155 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Beech Creek, PA 16822 91%509$71,635$200,000$217 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Draper, VA 24324 91%827$80,066$214,000$224 larger
Converse, IN 46919 91%904$83,664$193,300$153 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Sears, MI 49679 91%795$62,120$180,600$197 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Coloma, WI 54930 91%1,005$77,692$194,100$215 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Randall, MN 56475 91%1,226$64,327$207,800$150 larger
Pomona, KS 66076 91%1,421$73,945$187,900$173 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Alamo, NV 89001 91%2,427$71,386$208,200$232 more renters
Sheldon, VT 05483 90%189$78,505$246,500$211 larger
Georgetown, PA 15043 90%655$87,672$234,700$198 larger
New Albany, PA 18833 90%440$71,691$203,800$159 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.