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 Proctor, VT 05765

Proctor: median income $73,833, home value $209,200, $148/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ritzville, WA 99169 83%2,183$66,061$228,400$103 newer homes
Cressona, PA 17929 78%265$73,424$156,100$122 cheaper homes ($53K less) · younger residents · more renters
Covington, KY 41016 78%675$71,172$173,500$185 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · more renters
Glidden, IA 51443 78%1,100$78,906$191,000$139 less walkable · newer homes
Norco, LA 70079 78%1,342$71,433$238,900$158 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · newer homes
Elkader, IA 52043 77%925$76,705$165,000$131 cheaper homes ($44K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Hartwick, NY 13348 76%122$80,245$170,400$151 cheaper homes ($39K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Lanesboro, MN 55949 76%945$84,327$277,400$161 pricier homes ($68K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Scribner, NE 68057 76%1,203$74,213$168,200$113 cheaper homes ($41K less) · more single-family homes · less walkable
Herminie, PA 15637 75%416$70,461$220,600$159 less walkable · newer homes
Readlyn, IA 50668 75%967$85,956$174,000$118 cheaper homes ($35K less) · less walkable
Madelia, MN 56062 75%1,062$76,713$182,500$142 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · younger residents
Thornton, IL 60476 75%754$59,647$155,100$175 cheaper homes ($54K less) · newer homes
Lancaster, NH 03584 74%93$66,768$209,500$163 larger · older residents · less walkable
North Apollo, PA 15673 74%396$66,629$140,600$119 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · older residents
Guthrie Center, IA 50115 74%1,095$73,848$147,900$156 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · less walkable
Roland, IA 50236 74%1,038$85,046$198,900$179 more single-family homes · less walkable · newer homes
Blooming Prairie, MN 55917 74%997$75,208$207,000$180 larger · less walkable · newer homes
Tyler, MN 56178 74%1,146$87,031$165,400$125 cheaper homes ($44K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Stromsburg, NE 68666 74%1,260$63,529$177,200$101 cheaper homes ($32K less) · less walkable
Randolph, NE 68771 74%1,227$83,580$162,500— cheaper homes ($47K less) · less walkable
Greybull, WY 82426 74%1,727$67,083$209,000$210 larger · newer homes
Sherrill, NY 13461 73%135$88,750$226,900$196 larger · more renters · newer homes
Byron, NY 14422 73%256$91,786$169,500$180 cheaper homes ($40K less) · less walkable
Bellwood, PA 16617 73%344$52,609$145,500$121 cheaper homes ($64K less) · newer homes

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.