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 Presque Isle, ME 04769

Presque Isle: median income $55,768, home value $147,200, $148/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mansfield, OH 44906 95%832$52,624$140,300$147 larger
Bristol, VA 24201 92%1,007$48,764$176,500$135 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Elkins, WV 26241 92%803$50,538$152,000$119 larger
Fairmont, MN 56031 92%1,299$54,847$179,300$111 pricier homes ($32K more)
Norwich, NY 13815 91%467$61,469$133,900$113 Very close on everything we compare
Collinsville, VA 24078 90%920$53,665$143,400$119 younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Union City, TN 38261 90%1,293$55,876$153,400$129 larger
Crookston, MN 56716 90%1,335$59,744$196,100$110 pricier homes ($49K more)
Wichita Falls, TX 76302 90%1,818$59,590$165,800$133 younger residents
Brady, TX 76825 90%1,977$53,665$148,800$122 Very close on everything we compare
Las Vegas, NM 87701 90%2,059$49,920$182,200$147 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Charleston, WV 25311 89%898$62,800$137,200$127 Very close on everything we compare
Devils Lake, ND 58301 89%1,436$59,515$205,000$154 pricier homes ($58K more)
Jamestown, ND 58401 89%1,444$60,228$215,800$120 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger
Hardin, MT 59034 89%1,874$60,726$169,800$140 smaller · younger residents
Silvis, IL 61282 89%1,163$64,398$160,100$137 5 min longer commute
Scottsbluff, NE 69361 89%1,779$58,623$155,100$174 larger
Brownwood, TX 76801 89%1,933$54,231$150,400$142 larger
Wytheville, VA 24382 88%950$57,509$163,300$157 larger · more homeowners
South Boston, VA 24592 88%889$51,547$168,900$138 larger
Spencer, IA 51301 88%1,343$63,402$188,300$122 pricier homes ($41K more) · more homeowners
Tomah, WI 54660 88%1,103$61,186$197,200$152 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Valley City, ND 58072 88%1,410$64,375$177,800$108 pricier homes ($31K more)
Sidney, NE 69162 88%1,767$60,050$149,800$187 older homes
Meadville, PA 16335 87%694$57,591$161,600$133 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.