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 Randolph, VT 05060

Randolph: median income $77,317, home value $255,500, $200/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bethlehem, NH 03574 95%54$81,250$288,300$191 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Lewiston, NY 14092 95%322$72,218$279,900$199 larger
Munroe Falls, OH 44262 92%486$81,214$250,800$158 Very close on everything we compare
Green Lake, WI 54941 92%810$79,146$276,000$239 smaller
Dalton, MA 01226 91%104$79,438$295,700$184 pricier homes ($40K more) · older homes
Marlborough, NH 03455 91%76$69,395$268,000$195 smaller
Trumansburg, NY 14886 90%224$82,000$238,500$207 larger
Clear Lake, IA 50428 90%1,036$81,037$283,400$232 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Washburn, WI 54891 90%904$70,536$208,800$194 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Swanzey, NH 03446 89%78$85,484$262,100$228 larger
Archbald, PA 18403 89%223$77,521$223,900$156 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Wilton, IA 52778 89%942$82,623$202,200$158 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Newport, NH 03773 88%48$81,232$239,300$213 larger
Waldoboro, ME 04572 88%164$69,107$274,900$192 Very close on everything we compare
Henrietta, NY 14467 88%255$88,653$225,100$201 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Frankenmuth, MI 48734 88%555$91,032$305,100$174 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Milford, IA 51351 88%1,122$73,824$273,100$184 Very close on everything we compare
Farmingdale, ME 04344 87%145$71,635$249,700$245 younger residents
Columbiana, OH 44408 87%460$74,028$208,000$179 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Spring Green, WI 53588 87%871$83,417$292,300$232 pricier homes ($37K more)
Lake City, MN 55041 87%970$78,672$275,200$221 larger · more homeowners
Omaha, NE 68152 87%1,195$84,958$316,400$162 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
Youngstown, NY 14174 86%321$79,695$250,300$231 Very close on everything we compare
New Stanton, PA 15672 86%439$66,840$240,000$153 younger residents
Bolivar, OH 44612 86%503$85,208$240,300$186 younger 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.