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 Essex Junction, VT 05452

Essex Junction: median income $101,349, home value $432,400, $265/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Henrico, VA 23238 95%533$101,523$420,500$241 Very close on everything we compare
Minneapolis, MN 55441 95%995$101,981$470,100$214 pricier homes ($38K more)
Maitland, FL 32751 93%1,188$95,387$453,700$291 Very close on everything we compare
Grand Rapids, MI 49546 93%631$99,343$417,900$213 larger
Pewaukee, WI 53072 93%762$98,538$437,800$252 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Paul, MN 55122 93%987$96,823$356,600$200 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Cary, NC 27511 92%674$107,860$456,000$286 Very close on everything we compare
Rocky Hill, CT 06067 91%198$100,027$337,300$242 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Charlottesville, VA 22901 91%526$92,145$501,700$272 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger
Nashville, TN 37221 91%933$97,751$463,900$247 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Grafton, WI 53024 91%743$92,390$366,300$244 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Colorado Springs, CO 80906 91%1,674$89,984$574,100$224 pricier homes ($142K more) · larger
Nashua, NH 03063 90%143$107,630$391,400$291 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Clifton Park, NY 12065 90%119$113,873$379,900$262 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Hatfield, PA 19440 90%313$99,408$438,500$258 Very close on everything we compare
Williamsburg, VA 23185 90%534$105,431$429,500$220 larger
Orlando, FL 32819 90%1,201$98,109$489,700$278 pricier homes ($57K more) · more renters
Cincinnati, OH 45249 90%681$105,804$495,000$214 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller
Rochester, MI 48307 90%518$106,576$355,700$211 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Novi, MI 48375 90%538$112,545$376,900$204 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Getzville, NY 14068 89%300$98,750$365,300$221 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Virginia Beach, VA 23454 89%552$102,796$416,700$262 larger
Raleigh, NC 27615 89%663$112,754$479,000$241 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Roswell, GA 30076 89%939$118,170$489,700$231 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 89%753$100,031$367,900$240 cheaper homes ($65K less) · 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.