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 Groton, VT 05046

Groton: median income $84,375, home value $259,000, $202/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dearborn, MO 64439 96%1,201$91,136$286,100$194 pricier homes ($27K more)
Palermo, ME 04354 93%138$89,095$259,700$253 Very close on everything we compare
Whitewater, MO 63785 93%1,035$75,938$206,100$249 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Abbott, TX 76621 93%1,588$81,932$241,300$201 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Vernon, ME 04352 92%112$74,395$264,200$207 older residents
Arnoldsville, GA 30619 92%926$78,250$230,100$182 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Poplar, WI 54864 92%963$91,250$242,100$182 Very close on everything we compare
Colman, SD 57017 92%1,216$96,447$283,500$220 Very close on everything we compare
Monroe, ME 04951 91%159$81,300$220,300$191 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Homerville, OH 44235 91%549$76,634$279,100$224 Very close on everything we compare
Cement City, MI 49233 91%628$81,250$229,600$196 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Collins, IA 50055 91%1,073$85,278$200,000$199 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Perry, KS 66073 91%1,242$86,641$216,600$179 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Eagle, NE 68347 91%1,250$88,281$237,900$180 larger
Richards, TX 77873 91%1,596$80,938$285,000$198 pricier homes ($26K more)
Winterport, ME 04496 90%167$98,333$283,000$197 larger
Galway, NY 12074 90%123$94,583$304,800$234 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Hannacroix, NY 12087 90%147$91,458$240,600$229 Very close on everything we compare
Paxinos, PA 17860 90%324$92,000$275,800$182 larger
Rabun Gap, GA 30568 90%872$75,948$273,400$218 larger
Skandia, MI 49885 90%744$81,172$241,200$247 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Bartelso, IL 62218 90%974$91,250$217,800$193 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Linwood, KS 66052 90%1,228$82,411$340,200$212 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger
Estell Manor, NJ 08319 89%360$100,278$315,000$219 pricier homes ($56K more)
Freehold, NY 12431 89%157$80,694$262,500$265 larger · older residents

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.