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 East Calais, VT 05650

East Calais: median income $84,583, home value $379,700, $233/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hancock, NH 03449 84%100$92,708$432,200$234 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger · older residents
Magnolia Springs, AL 36555 84%1,277$86,705$435,200$241 pricier homes ($56K more) · older residents · newer homes
Readfield, ME 04355 83%123$86,504$326,400$223 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Freeland, MD 21053 82%391$89,497$408,300$238 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Williamsburg, MA 01096 81%137$104,375$374,900$248 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Accord, NY 12404 81%199$77,214$415,700$282 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · older residents
West Hurley, NY 12491 81%185$100,257$381,800$268 larger · 9 min shorter commute
Pownal, ME 04069 80%116$104,333$436,800$355 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
Mount Vernon, ME 04352 80%121$74,395$264,200$207 cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger
Cochecton, NY 12726 80%225$77,149$377,000$178 older residents
Northfield, MA 01360 79%117$103,375$375,800$206 larger
Eastford, CT 06242 79%174$89,250$353,100$223 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older residents
Oakham, MA 01068 78%142$102,000$420,100$265 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Shutesbury, MA 01072 78%131$111,667$355,100$341 higher income ($27K more) · older residents · newer homes
Becket, MA 01223 78%144$86,818$363,600$258 larger · older residents
Francestown, NH 03043 78%101$104,063$408,200$252 pricier homes ($29K more) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Olivebridge, NY 12461 78%196$112,273$431,400$319 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Diamond Point, NY 12824 78%87$108,533$425,900$266 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents
Marietta, NY 13110 78%218$93,438$272,700$158 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger
Troy, ID 83871 78%2,122$89,750$361,800$179 larger
Cedar Crest, NM 87008 78%1,896$85,673$376,700$239 larger · older residents · newer homes
Kempton, PA 19529 77%312$94,286$385,900$207 larger · older residents
Merrimac, WI 53561 77%857$91,103$427,600$251 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Dublin, NH 03444 76%104$104,773$429,600$219 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
New Preston Marble Dale, CT 06777 76%191$94,643$455,700$390 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger · older residents

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.