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 Chelsea, VT 05038

Chelsea: median income $62,000, home value $254,800, $154/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rome City, IN 46784 93%676$62,102$220,400$193 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Alstead, NH 03602 91%61$70,455$279,400$216 larger
Eddington, ME 04428 91%200$72,857$244,500$159 larger
Farnham, VA 22460 91%475$65,685$198,200$164 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Lometa, TX 76853 91%1,661$71,500$245,500$154 Very close on everything we compare
Cuddebackville, NY 12729 90%205$66,982$330,100$175 pricier homes ($75K more)
Flintstone, MD 21530 90%432$63,542$202,400$137 cheaper homes ($52K less)
New Middletown, OH 44442 90%462$61,528$195,800$181 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Henning, MN 56551 90%1,123$63,750$238,200$167 larger · younger residents
Lakehead, CA 96051 90%2,515$69,688$360,000$170 pricier homes ($105K more)
Cape Vincent, NY 13618 89%191$61,494$228,700$143 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Equinunk, PA 18417 89%204$63,333$257,700$179 younger residents
Union Dale, PA 18470 89%222$73,654$227,600$164 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · newer homes
Dushore, PA 18614 89%263$68,864$190,000$157 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Union, WV 24983 89%611$51,667$219,900$126 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Franklin, WV 26807 89%514$66,750$255,000$191 larger
Staffordsville, KY 41256 89%690$60,583$203,800$142 cheaper homes ($51K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Princeton, WI 54968 89%827$65,758$196,600$161 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Cheshire, MA 01225 88%105$69,803$268,200$175 larger
Milan, NH 03588 88%76$71,538$253,500$155 Very close on everything we compare
Franklin, ME 04634 88%214$67,589$264,600$166 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Burlington Flats, NY 13315 88%160$65,921$202,000$198 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Forestport, NY 13338 88%140$58,333$176,300$167 cheaper homes ($79K less) · younger residents
Remsen, NY 13438 88%142$69,797$192,900$135 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
East Concord, NY 14055 88%324$51,089$203,300$200 cheaper homes ($52K less)

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.