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.

Reset

Towns most like Bennington, VT 05201

Bennington: median income $59,798, home value $212,700, $193/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Orleans, LA 70121 96%1,294$59,562$247,900$175 pricier homes ($35K more)
Brewer, ME 04412 92%257$66,613$245,300$194 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · younger residents
Buffalo, NY 14227 90%281$68,928$208,800$227 Very close on everything we compare
Canton, OH 44709 90%444$57,842$161,200$144 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45224 90%642$56,471$204,000$150 6 min longer commute
Cincinnati, OH 45246 90%637$65,370$205,500$166 younger residents
Waterville, ME 04901 89%213$57,403$204,700$181 larger · younger residents
Liverpool, NY 13088 88%152$75,378$174,400$195 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Erie, PA 16509 88%355$68,846$220,500$169 larger · newer homes
Canton, OH 44708 88%447$63,706$171,700$149 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Kimberly, WI 54136 88%763$69,495$220,700$183 smaller
Greenfield, MA 01301 87%35$56,176$265,300$222 pricier homes ($53K more) · older homes
Augusta, ME 04330 87%198$54,775$217,300$211 larger
Morgantown, WV 26501 87%419$63,529$219,800$157 younger residents
Cincinnati, OH 45215 87%638$69,372$226,400$180 larger · younger residents
Appleton, WI 54911 87%766$67,001$216,100$174 larger · younger residents
Saint Joseph, MO 64506 87%1,138$65,573$240,300$150 pricier homes ($28K more) · newer homes
Longview, TX 75601 87%1,372$65,700$210,500$146 younger residents
Auburn, NY 13021 86%171$60,712$180,700$144 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Carlisle, PA 17013 86%276$71,042$233,300$179 larger
Roanoke, VA 24014 86%529$70,381$266,100$172 pricier homes ($53K more) · older residents
Huntington, WV 25701 86%575$56,292$164,300$115 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Green Bay, WI 54304 86%749$63,865$220,600$192 larger · younger residents
Wausau, WI 54403 86%824$69,030$192,600$149 larger · younger residents
Old Town, ME 04468 85%266$56,358$203,700$192 smaller · younger residents · less walkable

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.