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 Howland, ME 04448

Howland: median income $54,750, home value $152,000, $148/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lunenburg, VT 05906 96%158$51,106$168,800$156 Very close on everything we compare
Avoca, WI 53506 96%1,077$59,861$171,500$129 smaller
Perry, MO 63462 95%1,237$51,205$156,700$170 Very close on everything we compare
Noxen, PA 18636 94%455$57,132$180,200$177 pricier homes ($28K more)
Luther, MI 49656 94%839$56,656$135,500$138 Very close on everything we compare
Sidney Center, NY 13839 93%390$54,271$121,300$161 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Confluence, PA 15424 93%660$56,190$152,100$175 6 min longer commute
Fairview, MI 48621 93%752$51,304$145,300$134 Very close on everything we compare
Athens, MI 49011 93%854$59,722$158,600$139 Very close on everything we compare
Barryton, MI 49305 93%818$51,875$148,100$138 larger
Bruce, WI 54819 93%1,095$56,650$162,500$138 larger · younger residents
Boswell, PA 15531 92%631$60,855$137,500$128 larger
Karns City, PA 16041 92%629$67,167$146,800$139 Very close on everything we compare
Beaver Springs, PA 17812 92%532$59,338$160,100$171 Very close on everything we compare
Six Lakes, MI 48886 92%822$61,667$165,600$179 Very close on everything we compare
Kaleva, MI 49645 92%852$56,300$145,200$122 Very close on everything we compare
Prentice, WI 54556 92%1,046$54,375$144,800$147 5 min shorter commute
Hill City, MN 55748 92%1,195$53,810$201,300$156 pricier homes ($49K more)
Hale, MO 64643 92%1,312$56,688$113,000$141 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Mound City, KS 66056 92%1,428$57,813$163,200$134 Very close on everything we compare
Ellenburg Depot, NY 12935 91%251$57,542$119,000$132 cheaper homes ($33K less) · less walkable
Mayport, PA 16240 91%609$58,281$142,400$135 older homes
Grampian, PA 16838 91%580$57,917$118,400— cheaper homes ($34K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Renick, WV 24966 91%784$52,396$115,300$168 cheaper homes ($37K less)
West Union, WV 26456 91%743$58,000$164,400— 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.