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 Lincoln, ME 04457

Lincoln: median income $56,645, home value $146,300, $171/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Grayling, MI 49738 94%791$59,708$168,800$145 larger
Mc Connellsburg, PA 17233 93%609$61,296$195,500$166 pricier homes ($49K more)
Hillsville, VA 24343 93%869$58,252$164,600$158 larger
Whigham, GA 39897 93%1,314$54,639$141,500$152 smaller
Ladysmith, WI 54848 93%1,093$56,736$154,100$169 Very close on everything we compare
Warrensburg, NY 12885 92%290$59,429$169,800$169 older homes
Mexico, NY 13114 92%403$65,561$161,000$174 Very close on everything we compare
Conneaut Lake, PA 16316 92%645$62,750$165,400$202 Very close on everything we compare
Belpre, OH 45714 92%788$56,574$166,200$148 larger
Stanton, MI 48888 92%831$57,500$159,300$198 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Ignace, MI 49781 92%782$64,152$165,400$176 Very close on everything we compare
Owensville, MO 65066 92%1,272$56,964$166,600$140 younger residents
Dublin, VA 24084 91%850$63,146$192,600$176 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Stuart, VA 24171 91%856$57,778$148,300$139 Very close on everything we compare
Petersburg, WV 26847 91%698$52,139$180,400$162 pricier homes ($34K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Chesterfield, SC 29709 91%954$54,784$144,200$148 younger residents
Centre, AL 35960 91%1,191$52,619$181,200$169 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Waynesboro, TN 38485 91%1,222$52,933$126,400$139 Very close on everything we compare
Cloverdale, IN 46120 91%1,013$59,970$171,400$150 pricier homes ($25K more)
West Branch, MI 48661 91%773$61,377$177,000$158 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Heber Springs, AR 72543 91%1,405$56,722$187,800$153 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Grapeland, TX 75844 91%1,731$60,376$160,100$166 less walkable
Pearisburg, VA 24134 90%842$65,401$159,800$152 Very close on everything we compare
Brookneal, VA 24528 90%786$58,343$140,000$204 smaller
Dry Fork, VA 24549 90%823$55,186$146,000$144 less walkable

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.