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 Melrose, NY 12121

Melrose: median income $100,461, home value $297,400, $232/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sibley, MO 64088 93%1,100$101,645$342,800$213 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller
Mertztown, PA 19539 92%194$107,656$266,700$228 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Northfield, CT 06778 91%82$81,375$321,600$230 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Calvary, WI 53057 91%738$105,909$238,200$204 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Turner, ME 04282 90%194$100,036$284,900$230 larger
Waldo, WI 53093 90%724$101,429$274,800$223 Very close on everything we compare
Larsen, WI 54947 90%761$91,167$280,400$193 Very close on everything we compare
Washington Boro, PA 17582 89%246$100,263$304,800$211 Very close on everything we compare
Danielsville, PA 18038 89%173$117,121$279,700$235 larger · 5 min longer commute
Thompson, OH 44086 89%389$92,143$289,100$187 6 min longer commute
Newton, WI 53063 89%715$100,000$257,200$214 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Oakfield, WI 53065 89%753$99,583$261,800$174 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more renters
Caledonia, WI 53108 89%724$86,679$296,800$233 more single-family homes
Forestville, WI 54213 89%705$97,292$206,800$208 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller
Ossipee, NH 03864 88%139$104,485$328,200$284 pricier homes ($31K more) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Newbury, OH 44065 88%402$95,442$285,800$183 larger
Cascade, WI 53011 88%730$90,833$253,400$193 cheaper homes ($44K less) · more renters
Hager City, WI 54014 88%952$101,667$302,900$208 5 min longer commute
Carlos, MN 56319 88%1,089$89,712$273,100$228 smaller
Richmond, MN 56368 88%1,050$97,407$321,100$254 larger
Prospect, PA 16052 87%358$81,739$247,100$203 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Malone, WI 53049 87%740$93,424$286,000$261 6 min longer commute
Rubicon, WI 53078 87%749$94,688$364,200$345 pricier homes ($67K more)
Maribel, WI 54227 87%717$87,500$247,000$278 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Valders, WI 54245 87%720$85,302$226,700$227 cheaper homes ($71K less) · more renters

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.