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 Boothbay, ME 04537

Boothbay: median income $76,667, home value $358,600, $296/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Regis, MT 59866 95%2,182$73,462$343,700$304 Very close on everything we compare
Schroon Lake, NY 12870 94%206$72,628$268,700$382 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Ashton, ID 83420 90%2,056$69,286$337,700$228 larger
Haines, AK 99827 90%2,884$85,208$290,000$245 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Glenville, NC 28736 89%934$70,855$428,400$373 pricier homes ($70K more) · smaller
Woodruff, WI 54568 87%989$72,589$281,000$223 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger
Baileys Harbor, WI 54202 86%867$73,784$432,200$406 pricier homes ($74K more)
Paonia, CO 81428 86%1,981$75,799$432,700$279 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Saratoga, WY 82331 85%1,877$95,610$363,800$206 Very close on everything we compare
Moyie Springs, ID 83845 85%2,211$72,695$373,700$325 newer homes
Winchester, OR 97495 85%2,638$77,986$451,300$255 pricier homes ($93K more) · more walkable
Joseph, OR 97846 85%2,308$71,471$383,200$341 more renters
Brant Lake, NY 12815 84%205$76,302$287,500$299 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Grand Marais, MN 55604 84%1,029$73,427$352,500$369 larger
Etna, CA 96027 84%2,670$64,308$312,700$236 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Sheffield, MA 01257 83%226$102,788$441,000$299 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($82K more)
Craryville, NY 12521 83%236$75,652$338,700$290 10 min longer commute
Bellaire, MI 49615 83%772$79,469$292,300$251 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · older residents
Bay City, OR 97107 83%2,615$70,417$407,400$306 pricier homes ($49K more) · younger residents
Pennsylvania Furnace, PA 16865 82%481$77,717$270,700$208 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Cedarville, MI 49719 82%733$75,156$226,500$294 cheaper homes ($132K less) · older residents
Bayfield, WI 54814 82%1,045$63,682$250,000$268 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger · more renters
Elwood, NE 68937 82%1,553$85,260$316,800$399 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 8 min longer commute
Rockaway Beach, OR 97136 82%2,616$66,106$375,000$372 Very close on everything we compare
East New Market, MD 21631 81%492$73,864$306,700$198 cheaper homes ($52K less)

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.