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 Wilmington, VT 05363

Wilmington: median income $68,843, home value $284,200, $196/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bethlehem, NH 03574 87%113$81,250$288,300$191 younger residents · less walkable
Green Lake, WI 54941 85%811$79,146$276,000$239 less walkable
Washburn, WI 54891 83%921$70,536$208,800$194 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · younger residents
Frankfort, MI 49635 82%677$72,422$366,700$263 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger · older residents
Bellaire, MI 49615 80%631$79,469$292,300$251 larger · more homeowners · less walkable
Deer Isle, ME 04627 79%231$61,703$299,500$278 less walkable
Lewiston, NY 14092 79%312$72,218$279,900$199 larger
North Lima, OH 44452 79%422$61,602$256,600$119 cheaper homes ($28K less) · less walkable
Wabasha, MN 55981 79%962$71,607$273,400$181 larger
Galena, IL 61036 79%891$81,989$279,000$178 larger · less walkable
Tamworth, NH 03886 77%105$74,450$368,200$274 pricier homes ($84K more) · less walkable
Sedgwick, ME 04676 77%234$73,333$336,500$235 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller · younger residents
Ely, MN 55731 77%982$62,008$206,000$274 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Sundance, WY 82729 77%1,570$89,306$308,400$204 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Weaverville, CA 96093 77%2,545$65,741$339,500$225 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Rock Hall, MD 21661 76%313$90,492$283,200$304 less walkable
Chincoteague Island, VA 23336 76%366$63,464$346,700$288 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Elk Rapids, MI 49629 76%639$65,302$394,600$333 pricier homes ($110K more) · less walkable
Spring Green, WI 53588 76%868$83,417$292,300$232 larger · less walkable
Minocqua, WI 54548 76%858$69,569$336,400$288 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · less walkable
Onancock, VA 23417 75%388$66,450$293,200$154 larger · younger residents · less walkable
Columbus, NC 28722 75%726$67,760$307,300$225 larger · less walkable · newer homes
Pentwater, MI 49449 75%682$80,917$307,300$278 more homeowners · less walkable
Williams Bay, WI 53191 75%795$75,833$414,600$282 pricier homes ($130K more) · larger · younger residents
Hot Springs, SD 57747 75%1,535$68,443$221,000$174 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · 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.