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 Madison, ME 04950

Madison: median income $61,747, home value $187,600, $197/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Meridian, TX 76665 91%1,736$62,857$160,700$248 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Athens, PA 18810 90%388$58,750$208,400$139 Very close on everything we compare
Whitefield, NH 03598 89%92$67,179$227,600$224 pricier homes ($40K more) · more homeowners
Watkins Glen, NY 14891 88%391$61,875$164,700$184 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Mc Connellsburg, PA 17233 87%534$61,296$195,500$166 more homeowners
Blanch, NC 27212 86%758$57,108$190,400$159 smaller · newer homes
Newton Falls, OH 44444 86%615$61,441$145,600$149 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · more homeowners
Saint Ignace, MI 49781 86%724$64,152$165,400$176 more homeowners · newer homes
Palmerton, PA 18071 85%401$70,217$206,900$170 larger · more homeowners
Strasburg, OH 44680 85%660$69,509$206,600$179 more homeowners · newer homes
Springfield, VT 05156 84%167$66,679$204,300$162 larger · younger residents
Scottdale, PA 15683 84%593$51,913$150,400$189 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · more homeowners
Jessup, PA 18434 84%369$62,922$164,000$158 more homeowners
Richland Center, WI 53581 84%1,024$64,833$196,100$150 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Oconto, WI 54153 84%882$70,684$174,500$164 larger · more homeowners
Berlin, WI 54923 84%943$66,223$189,300$161 larger · younger residents · more homeowners
Claremont, NH 03743 83%159$59,625$206,600$190 larger · younger residents
Fairchance, PA 15436 83%612$62,917$156,200$176 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · older residents
Seneca, PA 16346 83%549$59,718$153,700$136 cheaper homes ($34K less) · more homeowners
Towanda, PA 18848 83%394$59,861$175,200$128 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Pocomoke City, MD 21851 83%551$53,162$206,700$176 larger · younger residents
Pearisburg, VA 24134 83%767$65,401$159,800$152 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more homeowners
Rockwood, TN 37854 83%994$55,856$177,500$196 larger · more homeowners
Gwinn, MI 49841 83%856$60,568$166,800$180 larger · younger residents · more homeowners
Richmond, MO 64085 83%1,290$64,096$171,400$158 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.