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 Sheldon, VT 05483

Sheldon: median income $78,505, home value $246,500, $211/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pittsville, MD 21850 95%467$79,665$234,500$223 larger
Spout Spring, VA 24593 95%605$79,018$243,900$195 Very close on everything we compare
Lyndon Station, WI 53944 95%840$72,614$201,700$216 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Bainbridge, PA 17502 94%381$72,776$233,000$235 Very close on everything we compare
Reedsville, WV 26547 94%511$76,084$204,000$178 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Solway, MN 56678 94%1,072$73,194$202,500$243 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Carmel, ME 04419 93%194$82,188$256,800$231 larger · older residents
Richfield, NC 28137 93%757$67,163$252,700$215 larger
Astatula, FL 34705 93%1,217$74,063$268,000$231 larger
Wartrace, TN 37183 93%956$81,126$245,300$180 larger
Levant, ME 04456 92%194$86,071$268,500$207 larger
Georgetown, PA 15043 92%485$87,672$234,700$198 older homes
Abbottstown, PA 17301 92%402$84,712$250,900$171 larger
Buckley, MI 49620 92%626$75,192$225,000$224 larger
Hawk Point, MO 63349 92%1,016$80,375$250,000$223 Very close on everything we compare
Moorcroft, WY 82721 92%1,557$72,865$276,500$181 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Fenelton, PA 16034 91%442$88,300$214,300$236 cheaper homes ($32K less) · older residents
Riner, VA 24149 91%668$69,753$204,600$226 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Brush Creek, TN 38547 91%914$80,843$244,100$221 Very close on everything we compare
Elmira, MI 49730 91%581$79,679$207,200$198 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Dresser, WI 54009 91%954$89,861$249,300$198 larger
Campbell, TX 75422 91%1,469$75,690$229,400$219 larger
Duchesne, UT 84021 91%1,917$73,819$271,500$209 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Mechanic Falls, ME 04256 90%137$69,914$270,900$213 larger · older homes
Bradley, ME 04411 90%212$76,667$201,800$152 cheaper homes ($45K less)

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.