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 Hillsdale, NY 12529

Hillsdale: median income $70,750, home value $384,600, $334/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Norris, TN 37828 87%699$78,750$315,200$235 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
New Buffalo, MI 49117 87%678$75,114$488,000$351 pricier homes ($103K more) · newer homes
Red Lodge, MT 59068 86%1,782$80,962$438,700$366 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · newer homes
Elk Rapids, MI 49629 85%622$65,302$394,600$333 more apartments and townhomes
Frankfort, MI 49635 84%657$72,422$366,700$263 older residents · newer homes
Idyllwild, CA 92549 84%2,396$73,750$532,300$340 pricier homes ($148K more) · larger · younger residents
South Royalton, VT 05068 83%123$80,911$298,600$226 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Tenants Harbor, ME 04860 82%250$86,833$271,400$352 cheaper homes ($113K less) · smaller · newer homes
Philipsburg, MT 59858 82%1,967$56,719$380,000$316 smaller · newer homes
Ashfield, MA 01330 81%44$83,493$391,700$273 9 min longer commute
Vinalhaven, ME 04863 81%270$72,963$428,400$319 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · older residents
Tryon, NC 28782 81%671$72,946$345,200$238 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · newer homes
Paonia, CO 81428 81%1,791$75,799$432,700$279 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · younger residents
Owls Head, ME 04854 80%260$87,325$413,300$379 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Newfane, VT 05345 80%70$67,472$277,700$231 cheaper homes ($107K less) · newer homes
Rockfall, CT 06481 80%63$84,674$360,400$272 younger residents
Pentwater, MI 49449 80%658$80,917$307,300$278 cheaper homes ($77K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Rochester, VT 05767 79%123$72,715$254,800$243 cheaper homes ($130K less) · smaller
Sawyer, MI 49125 79%669$79,766$342,300$378 cheaper homes ($42K less) · more homeowners
Green Lake, WI 54941 79%786$79,146$276,000$239 cheaper homes ($109K less) · newer homes
Idaho Springs, CO 80452 79%1,671$75,565$449,300$344 pricier homes ($65K more) · younger residents · more walkable
Meredith, NH 03253 78%144$84,719$482,700$354 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger · newer homes
Tamworth, NH 03886 78%163$74,450$368,200$274 older residents · newer homes
Deer Isle, ME 04627 78%285$61,703$299,500$278 cheaper homes ($85K less) · newer homes
Lincolnville, ME 04849 78%268$80,377$360,600$329 larger · 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.