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 Surry, ME 04684

Surry: median income $74,508, home value $296,300, $251/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Swanton, MD 21561 94%650$73,858$328,700$295 pricier homes ($32K more)
Panora, IA 50216 94%1,313$79,635$228,600$261 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Rumney, NH 03266 93%172$76,071$281,900$251 Very close on everything we compare
Worton, MD 21678 93%530$71,023$319,000$266 Very close on everything we compare
Danville, VT 05828 92%178$72,121$279,100$208 older homes
Beulah, MI 49617 92%860$74,207$304,000$352 larger
Pawlet, VT 05761 91%244$68,125$324,300$271 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · older homes
Spring Mills, PA 16875 91%524$71,250$307,700$211 larger
Rapid City, MI 49676 91%824$75,781$269,300$290 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Iron River, WI 54847 91%1,114$68,795$266,600$236 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Deerwood, MN 56444 91%1,232$77,500$365,200$238 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Nevis, MN 56467 91%1,276$74,297$318,000$263 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Dent, MN 56528 91%1,321$79,500$319,300$248 Very close on everything we compare
Apple River, IL 61001 91%1,089$77,841$300,300$182 Very close on everything we compare
Shaftsbury, VT 05262 90%258$71,417$253,600$208 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Newfane, VT 05345 90%233$67,472$277,700$231 older homes
Tafton, PA 18464 90%399$77,277$312,600$253 Very close on everything we compare
Lancaster, VA 22503 90%624$74,051$272,000$211 larger
Micanopy, FL 32667 90%1,281$81,659$258,300$197 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Underwood, MN 56586 90%1,325$79,583$309,800$268 Very close on everything we compare
Athens, NY 12015 89%307$91,845$306,300$226 larger
Warriors Mark, PA 16877 89%551$68,500$307,700— Very close on everything we compare
Saluda, NC 28773 89%970$70,703$413,700$319 pricier homes ($117K more) · larger
Little Mountain, SC 29075 89%990$75,884$257,400$217 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Rising Fawn, GA 30738 89%1,121$66,080$284,700$224 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.