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 Madawaska, ME 04756

Madawaska: median income $56,136, home value $160,100, $86/sq ft, 11-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
South Hutchinson, KS 67505 83%1,623$50,882$151,300— younger residents
Burns, OR 97720 83%2,430$49,170$191,700$122 pricier homes ($32K more)
Malta, MT 59538 82%1,813$57,097$191,800— pricier homes ($32K more) · younger residents
Lusk, WY 82225 82%1,775$68,422$229,200$109 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller
Santa Clara, NM 88026 82%2,301$57,898$141,500— smaller · more homeowners
Fairmont, MN 56031 81%1,284$54,847$179,300$111 larger · younger residents
Redfield, SD 57469 81%1,447$66,111$152,900$125 more single-family homes
Plentywood, MT 59254 81%1,660$68,750$164,400$109 smaller · more single-family homes
Sac City, IA 50583 79%1,341$62,981$144,700$74 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Warsaw, NY 14569 78%574$61,059$152,900$100 larger · 10 min longer commute
Gettysburg, SD 57442 78%1,512$65,625$134,600— cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Milan, MO 63556 78%1,325$58,851$124,100$107 cheaper homes ($36K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Westfield, NY 14787 77%649$53,587$118,400$113 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Waverly, NY 14892 77%544$54,043$139,000$117 larger · 9 min longer commute
Milbank, SD 57252 77%1,352$70,479$183,000$92 younger residents · more single-family homes
Winner, SD 57580 77%1,542$59,547$133,900$94 cheaper homes ($26K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Langdon, ND 58249 77%1,381$64,571$148,500$94 smaller · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Cando, ND 58324 76%1,423$61,146$157,500$68 smaller · younger residents
Ogallala, NE 69153 76%1,693$61,946$163,000$111 larger · more single-family homes
Ainsworth, NE 69210 76%1,566$56,625$123,300— cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Follansbee, WV 26037 75%777$59,508$136,600$114 larger · 11 min longer commute
Loup City, NE 68853 75%1,560$54,674$135,000$159 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Norwich, NY 13815 74%483$61,469$133,900$113 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · younger residents
Elkins, WV 26241 74%820$50,538$152,000$119 larger · younger residents
Clarion, IA 50525 74%1,274$67,250$128,800$98 cheaper homes ($31K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes

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.