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 West Rutland, VT 05777

West Rutland: median income $64,044, home value $214,700, $173/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mayville, NY 14757 93%339$67,115$186,700$215 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Pomeroy, WA 99347 92%2,156$64,699$243,400$147 pricier homes ($29K more)
Lancaster, NH 03584 91%97$66,768$209,500$163 Very close on everything we compare
Three Oaks, MI 49128 91%699$67,398$258,300$192 pricier homes ($44K more)
Willsboro, NY 12996 90%57$69,766$237,900$207 smaller · older residents
Preston, MN 55965 90%951$65,577$206,700$163 Very close on everything we compare
Homer, NY 13077 89%170$72,266$171,200$156 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Herminie, PA 15637 89%413$70,461$220,600$159 smaller
Blooming Prairie, MN 55917 89%997$75,208$207,000$180 Very close on everything we compare
Wilton, ME 04294 88%156$63,104$198,800$163 newer homes
Chaumont, NY 13622 88%157$81,065$234,700$180 smaller
Baden, PA 15005 88%419$73,354$216,500$190 larger
Dauphin, PA 17018 88%297$72,188$238,700$170 newer homes
Vinton, IA 52349 88%962$71,314$181,200$135 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Ashville, NY 14710 87%338$66,120$151,100$209 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Interlaken, NY 14847 87%197$73,594$186,100$163 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Michigan Center, MI 49254 87%578$63,750$172,100$163 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Lake View, IA 51450 87%1,113$71,875$184,800$130 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Glenwood, MN 56334 87%1,105$69,525$279,900$191 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger · newer homes
Gridley, IL 61744 87%833$68,000$170,900$138 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Ticonderoga, NY 12883 86%27$65,865$178,800$152 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more renters
Westport, NY 12993 86%48$80,139$222,500$194 smaller
Jermyn, PA 18433 86%190$75,000$213,900$147 larger · younger residents
Fairfield, VA 24435 86%512$70,114$203,700$218 smaller · newer homes
Silver Bay, MN 55614 86%916$72,981$181,700$156 cheaper homes ($33K 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.