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 Owls Head, ME 04854

Owls Head: median income $87,325, home value $413,300, $379/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sheffield, MA 01257 90%255$102,788$441,000$299 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Hebron, NH 03241 88%138$91,375$470,700$371 pricier homes ($57K more) · 6 min longer commute
Elwood, NE 68937 88%1,579$85,260$316,800$399 cheaper homes ($97K less) · 5 min longer commute
Schroon Lake, NY 12870 86%233$72,628$268,700$382 cheaper homes ($145K less)
Saint Regis, MT 59866 86%2,202$73,462$343,700$304 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Brant Lake, NY 12815 84%232$76,302$287,500$299 cheaper homes ($126K less) · younger residents
Paonia, CO 81428 84%2,007$75,799$432,700$279 larger
Salisbury, VT 05769 83%200$99,792$316,000$230 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Fort Defiance, VA 24437 83%652$87,200$310,100$278 cheaper homes ($103K less) · 6 min longer commute
Glenville, NC 28736 83%963$70,855$428,400$373 newer homes
Baileys Harbor, WI 54202 83%891$73,784$432,200$406 newer homes
Craryville, NY 12521 82%265$75,652$338,700$290 cheaper homes ($75K less) · 7 min longer commute
Germantown, NY 12526 82%276$97,679$485,000$361 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Colden, NY 14033 82%492$87,431$338,500$263 cheaper homes ($75K less) · 9 min longer commute
Grand Marais, MN 55604 82%1,049$73,427$352,500$369 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · newer homes
Tillson, NY 12486 81%295$96,964$320,000$293 cheaper homes ($93K less) · older residents · older homes
Chestertown, NY 12817 81%237$93,393$327,600$316 cheaper homes ($86K less) · 7 min longer commute
Joseph, OR 97846 81%2,329$71,471$383,200$341 cheaper homes ($30K less) · newer homes
Bridport, VT 05734 80%212$81,250$358,600$329 cheaper homes ($55K less) · 11 min longer commute
Hillsdale, NY 12529 80%260$70,750$384,600$334 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Stanfordville, NY 12581 80%277$80,640$412,200$314 6 min longer commute · more renters
Gill, MA 01354 79%198$90,208$340,100$230 cheaper homes ($73K less) · younger residents
Westmoreland, NH 03467 79%184$104,444$351,800$240 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
North Garden, VA 22959 79%653$95,461$548,800$414 pricier homes ($136K more) · 7 min longer commute · newer homes
New Buffalo, MI 49117 79%905$75,114$488,000$351 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger · 7 min longer 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.