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 Machiasport, ME 04655

Machiasport: median income $60,000, home value $177,100, $265/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake Preston, SD 57249 95%1,468$63,182$193,300— Very close on everything we compare
Monterey, VA 24465 92%764$61,379$202,500$357 pricier homes ($25K more)
Wall Lake, IA 51466 91%1,391$71,579$179,600$245 Very close on everything we compare
Tilden, NE 68781 91%1,530$67,212$171,700— Very close on everything we compare
Brockport, PA 15823 90%617$51,125$146,100— cheaper homes ($31K less)
Genesee, PA 16923 90%559$73,864$173,900— Very close on everything we compare
Butternut, WI 54514 90%1,120$70,769$165,000$216 larger
Loyalton, CA 96118 90%2,679$54,167$243,800$229 pricier homes ($67K more)
Greenbush, MI 48738 89%782$63,462$193,900$231 older residents
Keosauqua, IA 52565 89%1,271$62,992$149,000$202 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents
Cassville, WI 53806 89%1,180$64,076$164,600$199 Very close on everything we compare
Conover, WI 54519 89%1,061$59,628$271,600$271 pricier homes ($95K more)
Goshen, NH 03752 88%253$70,417$255,600$332 pricier homes ($79K more)
Penn Run, PA 15765 88%651$73,646$186,000— 6 min longer commute
New Harmony, IN 47631 88%1,151$66,058$197,100$191 larger · 6 min longer commute
Rudyard, MI 49780 88%848$69,375$155,700$257 larger · younger residents
Cook, MN 55723 88%1,223$64,526$189,700$307 larger · older residents
Valier, MT 59486 88%2,120$56,875$182,900$216 Very close on everything we compare
Burwell, NE 68823 88%1,597$61,974$174,100— larger
Lisbon, NH 03585 87%224$68,594$233,700$250 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
Wilcox, PA 15870 87%607$63,750$126,800— cheaper homes ($50K less)
Merrillan, WI 54754 87%1,148$58,125$170,200$208 7 min longer commute
Minong, WI 54859 87%1,185$55,882$225,300$336 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · newer homes
Lamoure, ND 58458 87%1,493$73,250$172,300— Very close on everything we compare
Centertown, MO 65023 87%1,350$72,663$221,200$193 pricier homes ($44K more) · 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.