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 Deer Isle, ME 04627

Deer Isle: median income $61,703, home value $299,500, $278/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Conover, WI 54519 95%1,009$59,628$271,600$271 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Lake Tomahawk, WI 54539 93%1,026$62,841$282,200$246 smaller
Craryville, NY 12521 90%290$75,652$338,700$290 pricier homes ($39K more)
Etna, CA 96027 90%2,710$64,308$312,700$236 Very close on everything we compare
Westwood, CA 96137 90%2,646$65,896$414,900$322 pricier homes ($115K more)
Newfane, VT 05345 89%220$67,472$277,700$231 6 min longer commute
Monterey, VA 24465 87%695$61,379$202,500$357 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller
State Road, NC 28676 87%842$60,833$242,600$191 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Saint Germain, WI 54558 87%1,021$59,718$261,000$345 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Central Lake, MI 49622 86%818$70,098$234,400$278 cheaper homes ($65K less) · 6 min longer commute
Nevis, MN 56467 86%1,275$74,297$318,000$263 newer homes
Ashton, ID 83420 86%2,097$69,286$337,700$228 pricier homes ($38K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Lisbon, NH 03585 85%161$68,594$233,700$250 cheaper homes ($66K less) · less walkable
Goshen, NH 03752 85%185$70,417$255,600$332 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Chester, VT 05143 85%208$70,610$255,200$230 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Schroon Lake, NY 12870 85%256$72,628$268,700$382 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Willsboro, NY 12996 85%235$69,766$237,900$207 cheaper homes ($62K less) · older homes
Three Oaks, MI 49128 85%921$67,398$258,300$192 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Minong, WI 54859 85%1,134$55,882$225,300$336 cheaper homes ($74K less) · newer homes
Siren, WI 54872 85%1,161$60,787$233,200$258 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Green Lake, WI 54941 85%1,007$79,146$276,000$239 Very close on everything we compare
Roach, MO 65787 85%1,326$62,917$314,500$254 smaller · newer homes
Dubois, WY 82513 85%2,021$66,332$382,600$330 pricier homes ($83K more) · older residents
Loyalton, CA 96118 85%2,626$54,167$243,800$229 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Cascade Locks, OR 97014 85%2,556$75,000$387,700$246 pricier homes ($88K more)

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.