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 Island Pond, VT 05846

Island Pond: median income $46,278, home value $159,600, $168/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Exmore, VA 23350 80%545$48,712$170,500$154 larger · 7 min shorter commute · less walkable
Spindale, NC 28160 80%840$40,868$164,000$146 larger
Woodsville, NH 03785 76%46$57,902$244,100$183 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Rice, VA 23966 76%618$57,177$192,700$169 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Adams, WI 53910 76%887$49,875$139,900$136 larger · less walkable
Lonaconing, MD 21539 75%513$57,708$130,200$214 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · older homes
Blanch, NC 27212 75%694$57,108$190,400$159 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Jellico, TN 37762 75%856$42,392$143,000$110 larger · less walkable
Nice, CA 95464 75%2,603$61,705$155,100$209 larger · younger residents
Gila Bend, AZ 85337 74%2,318$55,365$116,500— cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Austinville, VA 24312 72%724$48,235$162,200$121 older residents · less walkable · newer homes
South Bay, FL 33493 72%1,346$53,083$137,000$216 larger · younger residents
Jessup, PA 18434 71%296$62,922$164,000$158 larger · more homeowners · older homes
Altavista, VA 24517 71%656$53,201$145,200$151 larger · 8 min shorter commute · less walkable
Wildwood, GA 30757 71%986$60,947$173,600$149 more homeowners · less walkable
Livermore, KY 42352 71%937$53,750$143,000$153 more homeowners · less walkable
Woodsfield, OH 43793 71%585$49,234$136,200$131 larger · more homeowners · less walkable
Steelville, MO 65565 71%1,111$50,277$163,400$148 larger · less walkable
Meridian, TX 76665 71%1,644$62,857$160,700$248 larger · less walkable
San Saba, TX 76877 71%1,727$53,500$165,400$164 larger · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Madison, ME 04950 70%100$61,747$187,600$197 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · less walkable
Scottdale, PA 15683 70%510$51,913$150,400$189 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Great Bend, PA 18821 70%276$52,857$171,800$156 11 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Washington, GA 30673 70%959$51,748$136,400$154 larger · less walkable
Jeffersonville, OH 43128 70%695$50,915$173,100$146 larger · younger residents · less walkable

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.