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.

Reset

Towns most like Holden, ME 04429

Holden: median income $97,244, home value $313,600, $191/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dalton, PA 18414 96%419$93,065$288,500$194 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Schoolcraft, MI 49087 95%872$106,250$305,900$181 Very close on everything we compare
Tully, NY 13159 93%398$101,250$229,000$195 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Cicero, IN 46034 93%941$91,466$311,100$210 larger
Greenfield Center, NY 12833 92%282$102,832$345,600$183 pricier homes ($32K more)
Richland, MI 49083 92%857$105,496$348,100$170 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Earlham, IA 50072 92%1,301$111,250$303,900$176 smaller
Lebanon, CT 06249 91%281$109,135$345,900$216 pricier homes ($32K more)
Shavertown, PA 18708 91%440$98,545$264,800$167 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Oley, PA 19547 91%471$89,948$357,900$213 pricier homes ($44K more) · more renters
Gurley, AL 35748 91%1,167$103,563$356,300$198 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · newer homes
Macedonia, OH 44056 91%691$101,285$308,500$195 larger
Dimondale, MI 48821 91%812$107,440$244,000$172 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Williamston, MI 48895 91%794$93,418$294,600$157 larger
Blue Grass, IA 52726 91%1,134$104,250$276,100$168 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Hawley, MN 56549 91%1,340$105,968$341,500$170 pricier homes ($28K more)
Northford, CT 06472 90%311$105,729$405,200$264 pricier homes ($92K more)
Sarver, PA 16055 90%628$90,950$315,300$169 larger
New Tripoli, PA 18066 90%458$109,115$328,400$191 Very close on everything we compare
Armada, MI 48005 90%723$105,734$331,100$181 Very close on everything we compare
Washington, MI 48095 90%731$107,393$406,700$208 pricier homes ($93K more)
Manchester, MI 48158 90%792$94,784$312,200$190 larger · 5 min longer commute
Grass Lake, MI 49240 90%798$99,681$298,700$193 larger
Wales, WI 53183 90%989$108,827$398,700$207 pricier homes ($85K more) · smaller
New Glarus, WI 53574 90%1,054$106,508$335,700$205 Very close on everything we compare

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.