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.

Reset

Towns most like Patten, ME 04765

Patten: median income $50,286, home value $121,400, $179/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rose City, MI 48654 92%769$45,202$140,800$145 larger
Mikado, MI 48745 92%733$49,844$157,800$187 pricier homes ($36K more)
Fairview, MI 48621 91%761$51,304$145,300$134 Very close on everything we compare
Mc Millan, MI 49853 91%825$54,563$166,400$214 pricier homes ($45K more)
Pembine, WI 54156 91%937$49,625$129,300$172 Very close on everything we compare
Keosauqua, IA 52565 90%1,230$62,992$149,000$202 pricier homes ($28K more)
East Concord, NY 14055 89%556$51,089$203,300$200 pricier homes ($82K more)
Kosse, TX 76653 89%1,812$48,500$150,200$190 pricier homes ($29K more)
Orbisonia, PA 17243 88%620$42,381$155,400$152 pricier homes ($34K more)
Westover, MD 21871 88%661$50,524$185,900$189 pricier homes ($65K more)
Sardis, OH 43946 88%768$62,832$127,700$209 Very close on everything we compare
Merrillan, WI 54754 88%1,089$58,125$170,200$208 pricier homes ($49K more)
Kennerdell, PA 16374 87%651$57,829$128,800$171 7 min longer commute
Port Austin, MI 48467 87%722$53,750$172,500$189 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · older residents
Lachine, MI 49753 87%742$57,292$152,800$131 pricier homes ($31K more)
Stratford, IA 50249 87%1,281$60,761$119,000$207 older homes
Springbrook, WI 54875 87%1,110$57,022$172,500$191 pricier homes ($51K more) · newer homes
Hopwood, PA 15445 86%706$47,955$179,000$140 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger
Saint Helen, MI 48656 86%784$47,750$112,900$160 larger
Hale, MI 48739 86%756$52,802$179,400$153 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger
Lewiston, MI 49756 86%771$53,333$162,900$178 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Ontonagon, MI 49953 86%993$59,375$119,800$147 larger · older homes
Omaha, TX 75571 86%1,645$56,151$146,900$192 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · younger residents
Carrizozo, NM 88301 86%2,136$43,900$89,200$171 cheaper homes ($32K less) · older homes
Brockport, PA 15823 85%607$51,125$146,100— younger residents · 5 min shorter commute

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.