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 Etna, ME 04434

Etna: median income $72,379, home value $183,000, $195/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Simpson, IL 62985 96%1,136$74,375$183,800— Very close on everything we compare
Maysville, WV 26833 94%650$72,012$180,100$211 larger
Elmira, MI 49730 94%768$79,679$207,200$198 larger
Solway, MN 56678 94%1,252$73,194$202,500$243 Very close on everything we compare
Aniwa, WI 54408 93%987$72,768$165,100$213 Very close on everything we compare
Pomaria, SC 29126 92%975$73,702$195,200$211 larger
Lyndon Station, WI 53944 92%1,028$72,614$201,700$216 larger
Fosters, AL 35463 91%1,279$59,464$226,000$185 pricier homes ($43K more)
New Salisbury, IN 47161 91%981$79,914$206,800$199 larger
Westboro, WI 54490 91%1,031$67,981$190,600$182 Very close on everything we compare
Sheldon, VT 05483 90%187$78,505$246,500$211 pricier homes ($64K more)
Sugar Valley, GA 30746 90%1,099$81,696$238,000$175 pricier homes ($55K more)
Steele, AL 35987 90%1,177$78,906$181,600$165 larger
Brush Creek, TN 38547 90%1,068$80,843$244,100$221 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
Red Banks, MS 38661 90%1,276$69,276$227,300$213 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Scipio, IN 47273 90%937$78,670$168,800$175 older residents
Cornell, MI 49818 90%880$61,528$191,700$180 Very close on everything we compare
Bainbridge, PA 17502 89%502$72,776$233,000$235 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · more renters
Mardela Springs, MD 21837 89%553$62,880$227,400$182 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Reedsville, WV 26547 89%657$76,084$204,000$178 larger
Creola, AL 36525 89%1,402$66,719$209,100$155 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Clarkrange, TN 38553 89%1,019$63,500$174,800$219 larger
Soso, MS 39480 89%1,410$74,853$183,100$188 larger · 6 min longer commute
Mount Eden, KY 40046 89%951$66,000$221,000$166 pricier homes ($38K more) · 6 min longer commute
Senecaville, OH 43780 89%712$66,080$181,300$154 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.