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 Wells, VT 05774

Wells: median income $76,667, home value $253,200, $212/sq ft, 49-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Port Haywood, VA 23138 89%449$78,475$277,800$311 Very close on everything we compare
Orland, ME 04472 80%235$69,022$275,300$295 larger · 9 min shorter commute
Pearblossom, CA 93553 80%2,451$74,643$381,300$263 pricier homes ($128K more)
Groveland, CA 95321 80%2,457$74,000$393,100$224 pricier homes ($140K more) · larger
Parsonsfield, ME 04047 79%117$72,045$272,100$296 larger · younger residents
Surry, VA 23883 79%474$76,719$239,400$206 larger · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Brogue, PA 17309 78%299$84,917$262,500$233 Very close on everything we compare
Hague, VA 22469 78%413$58,500$325,900$198 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger
Suffolk, VA 23432 77%487$94,306$391,500$208 pricier homes ($138K more) · less walkable
Hillsboro, WV 24946 77%521$60,625$227,000— cheaper homes ($26K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Ozawkie, KS 66070 77%1,186$85,714$219,500$136 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Beulah, CO 81023 77%1,692$55,641$375,200$191 pricier homes ($122K more)
Mcarthur, CA 96056 77%2,436$61,442$375,600$199 pricier homes ($122K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Mount Bethel, PA 18343 76%200$80,491$326,300$185 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Rye, CO 81069 76%1,695$97,513$364,700$178 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Airville, PA 17302 75%299$82,200$246,500$178 larger · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Greentown, PA 18426 75%180$63,219$272,300$218 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Damon, TX 77430 75%1,579$85,364$309,600$199 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger · newer homes
Kendrick, ID 83537 75%2,104$71,917$327,300$197 pricier homes ($74K more) · 10 min shorter commute
Ford, VA 23850 74%496$87,986$247,900$220 less walkable · newer homes
Lake Nebagamon, WI 54849 74%928$80,714$261,000$219 larger · 12 min shorter commute · less walkable
Hoodsport, WA 98548 74%2,397$68,452$315,000$295 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · older residents
Charlemont, MA 01339 73%59$68,365$309,300$281 pricier homes ($56K more) · 9 min shorter commute
West Newfield, ME 04095 73%116$57,206$319,000$350 pricier homes ($66K more)
Machipongo, VA 23405 73%440$59,663$341,800$241 pricier homes ($89K more) · younger 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.