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 Esperance, NY 12066

Esperance: median income $78,571, home value $197,800, $192/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Reeseville, WI 53579 94%736$79,792$239,100$207 pricier homes ($41K more)
Erving, MA 01344 92%95$77,656$271,800$209 pricier homes ($74K more)
Alexandria, PA 16611 91%249$70,887$167,500— cheaper homes ($30K less)
Garfield, GA 30425 91%818$73,889$209,700— Very close on everything we compare
Jamestown, IN 46147 91%668$80,707$216,800$203 Very close on everything we compare
Albany, WI 53502 91%768$87,000$252,300$220 pricier homes ($55K more)
Barnesville, PA 18214 90%163$82,375$208,000$163 Very close on everything we compare
Lakeville, IN 46536 90%619$78,448$227,000$164 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · newer homes
Palmyra, WI 53156 90%724$85,313$238,200$191 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Jackson Center, PA 16133 89%316$76,713$201,200$192 newer homes
Cascade, MD 21719 89%270$65,809$214,100$150 smaller
Frankton, IN 46044 89%619$81,402$163,600$178 cheaper homes ($34K less) · newer homes
Malvern, IA 51551 89%1,099$85,469$212,400$250 more single-family homes
Saint Mary, MO 63673 89%893$77,931$235,900$185 pricier homes ($38K more) · newer homes
Downey, ID 83234 89%1,908$81,083$229,300$178 pricier homes ($32K more) · more single-family homes
Sandy Lake, PA 16145 88%312$67,321$180,100$150 Very close on everything we compare
Columbia Cross Roads, PA 16914 88%142$68,558$226,900$172 pricier homes ($29K more)
Ringtown, PA 17967 88%166$77,321$187,500$179 older residents · more single-family homes
Lennon, MI 48449 88%488$69,545$158,900$156 cheaper homes ($39K less) · newer homes
New Lothrop, MI 48460 88%491$80,000$213,900$195 more single-family homes
Baxter, IA 50028 88%965$72,022$206,300$203 Very close on everything we compare
Elmwood, WI 54740 88%902$79,387$239,700$231 pricier homes ($42K more)
Houston, MN 55943 88%870$72,411$239,600$209 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Landisville, NJ 08326 87%227$79,583$276,100$219 pricier homes ($78K more)
Hilliards, PA 16040 87%307$84,792$177,700$183 smaller · 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.