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 North Creek, NY 12853

North Creek: median income $57,950, home value $214,600, $236/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arapahoe, NC 28510 94%619$58,839$264,100$240 pricier homes ($50K more)
Hagerman, ID 83332 94%2,038$64,792$226,200$250 larger
Saguache, CO 81149 93%1,714$57,019$197,700$203 Very close on everything we compare
Thompsonville, MI 49683 92%596$61,250$187,200$272 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Raphine, VA 24472 91%483$51,429$251,000$268 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Panacea, FL 32346 91%1,105$61,700$267,200$257 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Bath, NH 03740 90%105$67,813$234,400$253 Very close on everything we compare
Penrose, NC 28766 90%743$57,708$307,000$252 pricier homes ($92K more)
Remus, MI 49340 90%558$54,417$190,900$209 larger
Benzonia, MI 49616 90%603$57,982$221,600$259 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Springbrook, WI 54875 90%879$57,022$172,500$191 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Colebrook, NH 03576 89%149$52,682$214,900$204 larger
Milbridge, ME 04658 89%308$60,536$240,400$262 pricier homes ($26K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Morrill, ME 04952 89%245$67,763$215,700$231 younger residents
Strattanville, PA 16258 89%322$55,188$183,800— cheaper homes ($31K less) · younger residents
Pollocksville, NC 28573 89%624$63,554$154,200$169 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Zionville, NC 28698 89%654$54,402$219,400$264 larger
Merrillan, WI 54754 89%835$58,125$170,200$208 cheaper homes ($44K less) · more single-family homes
Siren, WI 54872 89%913$60,787$233,200$258 larger
Friedens, PA 15541 88%359$62,992$178,500$233 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Danbury, NC 27016 88%599$57,273$177,300$176 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Germanton, NC 27019 88%610$59,176$205,000$174 larger
Tyner, NC 27980 88%533$66,111$259,300$202 pricier homes ($45K more) · 7 min longer commute
Oak Hill, FL 32759 88%1,093$61,671$289,300$229 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger
Hill City, MN 55748 88%976$53,810$201,300$156 5 min longer commute

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.