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 Lake Placid, NY 12946

Lake Placid: median income $77,548, home value $467,000, $363/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Durham, CA 95938 89%2,442$82,974$611,700$368 pricier homes ($145K more)
Missoula, MT 59804 88%1,931$76,266$588,400$351 pricier homes ($121K more) · larger · more walkable
Seward, AK 99664 88%3,175$87,760$384,600$271 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Kittery, ME 03904 86%181$85,084$448,900$448 larger · older homes
Twisp, WA 98856 86%2,187$70,089$484,600$320 smaller
Conway, NH 03818 85%142$77,134$324,800$241 cheaper homes ($142K less)
Traverse City, MI 49684 85%577$80,788$420,200$332 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Bishop, CA 93514 85%2,338$81,278$422,600$349 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Salida, CO 81201 84%1,695$80,248$674,000$428 pricier homes ($207K more) · larger
Grand Junction, CO 81506 84%1,805$78,651$448,300$263 larger · older residents
Moab, UT 84532 84%1,868$68,444$549,400$392 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger
Petoskey, MI 49770 82%540$79,590$355,200$275 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger
Manchester Center, VT 05255 81%90$91,058$445,500$270 older residents
Blowing Rock, NC 28605 81%694$76,477$552,400$507 pricier homes ($85K more) · 8 min longer commute
Chelan, WA 98816 81%2,188$82,577$499,200$421 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Granby, CO 80446 80%1,651$74,973$642,600$439 pricier homes ($176K more) · newer homes
Asheville, NC 28805 79%749$75,151$412,500$281 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Cody, WY 82414 79%1,719$77,958$435,300$252 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Warrenton, OR 97146 79%2,394$82,936$463,800$313 larger
White River Junction, VT 05001 78%90$78,092$296,900$271 cheaper homes ($170K less) · larger · younger residents
Philomath, OR 97370 78%2,400$88,091$463,200$279 larger · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Ludlow, VT 05149 77%89$64,191$365,300$300 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller · older residents
Pawcatuck, CT 06379 77%228$95,066$406,100$286 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Deep River, CT 06417 77%215$90,253$362,200$286 cheaper homes ($105K less) · 10 min longer commute
Manteo, NC 27954 77%586$80,587$418,400$374 cheaper homes ($49K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners

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.