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 Lincolnville, ME 04849

Lincolnville: median income $80,377, home value $360,600, $329/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Harbor Springs, MI 49740 95%782$89,250$363,500$312 larger
Afton, VA 22920 92%670$88,028$410,000$311 pricier homes ($49K more)
Pentwater, MI 49449 91%858$80,917$307,300$278 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · older residents
White Stone, VA 22578 90%594$80,783$441,600$252 pricier homes ($81K more) · smaller
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 90%952$71,383$341,400$248 larger
Bellaire, MI 49615 90%794$79,469$292,300$251 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Maple City, MI 49664 90%826$77,500$475,900$410 pricier homes ($115K more) · smaller
Chestertown, NY 12817 89%239$93,393$327,600$316 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Deerwood, MN 56444 89%1,208$77,500$365,200$238 Very close on everything we compare
Paonia, CO 81428 89%2,007$75,799$432,700$279 pricier homes ($72K more)
Thornton, NH 03285 88%130$90,022$351,900$254 more apartments and townhomes
Chattanooga, TN 37419 88%1,074$74,787$351,800$245 Very close on everything we compare
New Buffalo, MI 49117 88%907$75,114$488,000$351 pricier homes ($127K more)
Grand Marais, MN 55604 88%1,044$73,427$352,500$369 7 min shorter commute
Nisswa, MN 56468 88%1,227$100,300$465,800$372 pricier homes ($105K more)
Cornish, NH 03745 87%171$91,821$296,000$292 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Enfield, NH 03748 87%159$95,089$388,500$290 pricier homes ($28K more)
Putney, VT 05346 87%193$79,118$320,800$202 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Beulah, MI 49617 87%833$74,207$304,000$352 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 6 min longer commute
Cedar, MI 49621 87%823$95,446$396,600$278 pricier homes ($36K more) · 5 min longer commute
Suttons Bay, MI 49682 87%814$97,813$396,500$369 pricier homes ($36K more) · 7 min longer commute
Nevis, MN 56467 87%1,252$74,297$318,000$263 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Saluda, NC 28773 86%940$70,703$413,700$319 pricier homes ($53K more) · 6 min longer commute
Baileys Harbor, WI 54202 86%888$73,784$432,200$406 pricier homes ($72K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Cornville, AZ 86325 86%2,348$74,679$442,800$272 pricier homes ($82K more) · newer 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.