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 Penobscot, ME 04476

Penobscot: median income $63,194, home value $296,400, $280/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Conover, WI 54519 97%1,002$59,628$271,600$271 Very close on everything we compare
Lake Tomahawk, WI 54539 95%1,019$62,841$282,200$246 Very close on everything we compare
Andes, NY 13731 93%345$73,750$291,300$214 Very close on everything we compare
Roach, MO 65787 93%1,325$62,917$314,500$254 Very close on everything we compare
Newfane, VT 05345 92%223$67,472$277,700$231 Very close on everything we compare
Stone Lake, WI 54876 92%1,111$72,794$282,100$340 Very close on everything we compare
Craryville, NY 12521 91%295$75,652$338,700$290 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Central Lake, MI 49622 91%812$70,098$234,400$278 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Cascade Locks, OR 97014 91%2,547$75,000$387,700$246 pricier homes ($91K more)
Shaftsbury, VT 05262 90%248$71,417$253,600$208 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Lisbon, NH 03585 89%158$68,594$233,700$250 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Goshen, NH 03752 89%188$70,417$255,600$332 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Bridport, VT 05734 89%232$81,250$358,600$329 pricier homes ($62K more)
Pawlet, VT 05761 89%233$68,125$324,300$271 pricier homes ($28K more) · 7 min longer commute
East Meredith, NY 13757 89%341$73,523$225,000$346 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Falls, PA 18615 89%416$76,184$229,100$253 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Worton, MD 21678 89%521$71,023$319,000$266 Very close on everything we compare
Monterey, VA 24465 89%701$61,379$202,500$357 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Lakemont, GA 30552 89%1,027$66,316$354,700$390 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · newer homes
Nevis, MN 56467 89%1,267$74,297$318,000$263 larger
Bonnots Mill, MO 65016 89%1,264$78,750$269,400— cheaper homes ($27K less)
Bath, NH 03740 88%163$67,813$234,400$253 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Warriors Mark, PA 16877 88%541$68,500$307,700— 7 min longer commute
Cable, WI 54821 88%1,096$57,813$321,400$268 pricier homes ($25K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Minong, WI 54859 88%1,127$55,882$225,300$336 cheaper homes ($71K less) · 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.