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 Jefferson, NY 12093

Jefferson: median income $65,321, home value $174,800, $192/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jumping Branch, WV 25969 92%477$60,250$182,300— Very close on everything we compare
James Creek, PA 16657 91%237$63,353$214,500$164 pricier homes ($40K more)
Mathias, WV 26812 91%336$64,375$144,200$158 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Liberty, TN 37095 91%754$64,792$189,200$212 Very close on everything we compare
Fife Lake, MI 49633 91%551$73,681$189,700$225 larger
Free Soil, MI 49411 90%596$61,857$239,400$235 pricier homes ($65K more)
Stahlstown, PA 15687 89%295$54,798$189,500$242 Very close on everything we compare
Nickelsville, VA 24271 89%574$58,625$161,500$166 larger
Westfield, NC 27053 89%517$67,974$224,500$180 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Hubbard Lake, MI 49747 89%478$73,233$179,500$196 larger
Powers, MI 49874 89%677$62,500$193,900$220 Very close on everything we compare
Pembroke, ME 04666 88%407$60,761$142,100$156 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Saint Albans, ME 04971 88%310$65,600$194,000$244 Very close on everything we compare
Utica, PA 16362 88%283$65,833$183,000$159 6 min shorter commute
Blounts Creek, NC 27814 88%507$77,368$166,700$190 Very close on everything we compare
Cunningham, TN 37052 88%803$69,423$224,300$211 pricier homes ($50K more) · newer homes
Sherrodsville, OH 44675 88%369$83,179$168,200$217 larger
Port Sanilac, MI 48469 88%406$56,023$162,700$134 Very close on everything we compare
Six Lakes, MI 48886 88%536$61,667$165,600$179 5 min shorter commute
Embarrass, MN 55732 88%927$64,750$178,700$192 6 min shorter commute
Orr, MN 55771 88%965$67,667$169,100$260 5 min shorter commute
Edgard, LA 70049 88%1,234$68,953$182,900— 6 min shorter commute
Andreas, PA 18211 87%137$78,806$240,400$243 pricier homes ($66K more)
Surry, VA 23883 87%388$76,719$239,400$206 pricier homes ($65K more)
Hillsboro, WV 24946 87%425$60,625$227,000— pricier homes ($52K 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.