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 Damariscotta, ME 04543

Damariscotta: median income $59,423, home value $363,500, $431/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ludlow, VT 05149 91%166$64,191$365,300$300 Very close on everything we compare
Cape Charles, VA 23310 82%576$62,500$377,300$318 larger · older residents
Philipsburg, MT 59858 82%2,112$56,719$380,000$316 older residents · more single-family homes
Taos, NM 87571 82%1,958$57,575$458,900$359 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger
Morrisville, VT 05661 81%157$67,052$304,700$264 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Gatlinburg, TN 37738 81%935$57,330$334,100$361 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · younger residents
Williams Bay, WI 53191 80%960$75,833$414,600$282 pricier homes ($51K more)
Joseph, OR 97846 80%2,311$71,471$383,200$341 older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Chincoteague Island, VA 23336 79%520$63,464$346,700$288 larger · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Elk Rapids, MI 49629 79%785$65,302$394,600$333 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents · older homes
Center Conway, NH 03813 78%77$56,951$252,200$330 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger · older residents
Rockaway Beach, OR 97136 78%2,618$66,106$375,000$372 older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Millerton, NY 12546 77%249$84,455$313,300$313 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($50K less)
Dolores, CO 81323 77%2,069$75,393$392,000$291 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Crawford, CO 81415 77%1,992$59,141$330,900$333 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents · less walkable
Ranchester, WY 82839 77%1,841$57,708$385,900$324 younger residents · newer homes
Worley, ID 83876 77%2,263$60,729$536,700$411 pricier homes ($173K more) · more homeowners · less walkable
Aurora, OR 97002 77%2,574$70,137$530,100$339 pricier homes ($167K more) · larger
Elizaville, NY 12523 76%254$54,235$343,400$322 less walkable
Blowing Rock, NC 28605 76%843$76,477$552,400$507 pricier homes ($189K more) · larger · younger residents
New Buffalo, MI 49117 76%884$75,114$488,000$351 pricier homes ($125K more) · larger · older residents
Saint Regis, MT 59866 76%2,184$73,462$343,700$304 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Superior, MT 59872 76%2,174$55,926$396,600$387 pricier homes ($33K more)
Dexter, OR 97431 76%2,604$60,714$354,800$342 younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Port Hadlock, WA 98339 76%2,519$77,778$409,800$350 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · more 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.