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 Cuttingsville, VT 05738

Cuttingsville: median income $95,000, home value $331,900, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Secor, IL 61771 97%854$101,600$317,900$82 Very close on everything we compare
Toddville, IA 52341 93%959$91,250$371,800$163 pricier homes ($40K more)
Edgecomb, ME 04556 91%165$108,750$348,400$296 Very close on everything we compare
Jefferson, SD 57038 91%1,195$106,250$332,300$185 6 min shorter commute
Center Tuftonboro, NH 03816 90%82$88,971$426,700$300 pricier homes ($95K more)
Brimfield, IL 61517 90%890$99,886$275,000$138 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Dayton, WY 82836 90%1,695$79,375$329,100$264 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, MA 01128 89%101$100,313$272,100$236 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Madison, NH 03849 89%91$96,439$390,100$289 pricier homes ($58K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Brutus, MI 49716 89%600$100,179$307,100$439 newer homes
Britt, MN 55710 89%994$86,477$280,400$170 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Dearborn, MO 64439 89%1,162$91,136$286,100$194 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Adams, NE 68301 89%1,230$114,408$299,500$154 cheaper homes ($32K less)
West Hurley, NY 12491 88%123$100,257$381,800$268 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Paxinos, PA 17860 88%267$92,000$275,800$182 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · newer homes
Elgin, MN 55932 88%965$100,078$316,500$120 larger
Crooks, SD 57020 88%1,194$101,500$320,400$169 newer homes
Thompson, ND 58278 88%1,201$111,250$313,400$209 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Bennet, NE 68317 88%1,223$108,056$294,100$166 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · newer homes
Pownal, ME 04069 87%136$104,333$436,800$355 pricier homes ($105K more)
North Franklin, CT 06254 87%137$105,000$326,200$246 larger
Estell Manor, NJ 08319 87%304$100,278$315,000$219 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Sciota, PA 18354 87%219$85,588$252,600$157 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Skandia, MI 49885 87%729$81,172$241,200$247 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger
Lawton, IA 51030 87%1,178$86,167$271,000$148 cheaper homes ($61K 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.