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 Marshfield, VT 05658

Marshfield: median income $72,292, home value $243,800, $516/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Loami, IL 62661 89%953$80,833$180,300— cheaper homes ($64K less)
Volant, PA 16156 82%459$69,054$221,400— larger
Flag Pond, TN 37657 82%788$73,108$190,600$419 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Liberty, PA 16930 80%308$71,111$197,800— cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · older residents
Minford, OH 45653 80%661$82,125$176,100— cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Estelline, SD 57234 80%1,205$82,358$173,000$373 cheaper homes ($71K less) · older homes
Hill City, SD 57745 80%1,539$88,194$343,900$390 pricier homes ($100K more) · newer homes
Snook, TX 77878 80%1,625$60,417$207,000— cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · more renters
Wilmington, NY 12997 79%74$82,344$322,600$331 pricier homes ($79K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Branchport, NY 14418 79%271$65,577$193,800$381 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · older residents
Alexandria, PA 16611 79%393$70,887$167,500— cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger
Siloam, NC 27047 79%704$71,146$214,500— cheaper homes ($29K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Pilot Grove, MO 65276 79%1,125$78,958$186,300— cheaper homes ($58K less)
Manassa, CO 81141 79%1,812$59,539$202,500— cheaper homes ($41K less)
Hiram, ME 04041 78%82$62,813$256,600$325 Very close on everything we compare
Deer Park, WI 54007 78%981$85,398$309,400— pricier homes ($66K more) · older residents
Esmont, VA 22937 77%557$86,979$249,600$326 older residents
Pine Level, NC 27568 77%685$66,071$230,800— 8 min shorter commute
Garfield, GA 30425 77%963$73,889$209,700— cheaper homes ($34K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Castlewood, SD 57223 77%1,210$92,424$236,600$315 Very close on everything we compare
Worden, MT 59088 76%1,733$90,625$234,300— 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Paauilo, HI 96776 76%4,924$93,241$440,900$605 pricier homes ($197K more)
Falls City, OR 97344 76%2,471$59,000$320,700— pricier homes ($77K more)
Steuben, ME 04680 75%218$76,466$173,900$413 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Lawtons, NY 14091 75%352$82,833$236,200— Very close on everything we compare

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.