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 Bristol, VT 05443

Bristol: median income $88,594, home value $356,600, $238/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Valatie, NY 12184 96%122$98,622$355,200$276 Very close on everything we compare
Gray, ME 04039 94%137$95,125$357,500$270 Very close on everything we compare
Topsham, ME 04086 94%156$91,028$360,800$296 Very close on everything we compare
Chelsea, MI 48118 94%566$88,278$357,200$219 larger
Cicero, IN 46034 93%719$91,466$311,100$210 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Deep River, CT 06417 92%194$90,253$362,200$286 Very close on everything we compare
Export, PA 15632 92%421$93,664$291,400$200 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Oley, PA 19547 92%294$89,948$357,900$213 Very close on everything we compare
Williams Bay, WI 53191 92%784$75,833$414,600$282 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
Lake Mills, WI 53551 92%795$94,401$357,400$229 younger residents
Springfield, MA 01129 91%143$97,162$256,700$232 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Epsom, NH 03234 91%107$97,941$338,400$251 Very close on everything we compare
Wiscasset, ME 04578 91%168$81,063$327,400$234 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Clarence, NY 14031 91%289$103,750$343,700$249 larger
Elverson, PA 19520 91%309$100,088$417,200$201 pricier homes ($61K more)
Chestertown, MD 21620 91%374$80,530$347,500$228 larger
Cambridge, WI 53523 91%801$102,188$345,300$219 less walkable
East Helena, MT 59635 91%1,873$83,740$395,600$277 pricier homes ($39K more)
Medical Lake, WA 99022 91%2,130$93,812$389,700$245 pricier homes ($33K more)
Pawcatuck, CT 06379 90%201$95,066$406,100$286 pricier homes ($50K more)
Evans City, PA 16033 90%425$108,071$333,100$200 Very close on everything we compare
Harmony, PA 16037 90%426$93,077$348,200$205 Very close on everything we compare
Landisville, PA 17538 90%328$86,719$299,300$188 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older residents
Gainesville, FL 32653 90%1,116$93,913$301,700$197 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
East Troy, WI 53120 90%773$96,345$336,300$260 larger

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.