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 Tupper Lake, NY 12986

Tupper Lake: median income $67,883, home value $158,900, $164/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Marys, PA 15857 93%282$67,662$150,100$161 larger
Pittston, PA 18641 92%210$75,708$151,700$154 Very close on everything we compare
Manchester, IA 52057 92%859$69,635$184,300$142 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Pipestone, MN 56164 92%1,077$74,201$149,800$146 younger residents
Mineral Ridge, OH 44440 91%383$64,904$167,800$156 newer homes
Waukon, IA 52172 91%849$68,875$166,100$115 Very close on everything we compare
Houlton, ME 04730 90%348$61,980$145,200$128 larger
Sharpsville, PA 16150 90%366$56,334$148,200$147 6 min longer commute
Olyphant, PA 18447 90%199$66,677$207,900$150 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Garner, IA 50438 90%956$70,350$197,600$153 pricier homes ($39K more) · newer homes
Ortonville, MN 56278 90%1,077$63,203$202,800$144 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller
Brookville, PA 15825 89%315$64,130$158,700$204 larger · 6 min longer commute
Lake Mills, IA 50450 89%949$76,125$158,000$116 smaller
Osage, IA 50461 89%915$68,886$180,400$134 younger residents
Harlan, IA 51537 89%1,065$65,000$166,800$108 younger residents
Blue Earth, MN 56013 89%974$71,553$176,900$103 Very close on everything we compare
Madison, MN 56256 89%1,064$65,521$124,200$119 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Montevideo, MN 56265 89%1,041$74,848$162,400$115 younger residents
Princeton, IL 61356 89%782$68,243$152,900$128 larger
Caribou, ME 04736 88%362$54,368$139,000$139 larger
Brockway, PA 15824 88%301$64,623$155,600$144 younger residents
West Middlesex, PA 16159 88%369$69,391$178,000— newer homes
Wyoming, PA 18644 88%213$70,026$179,200$159 6 min longer commute
Loudonville, OH 44842 88%466$72,737$206,700$156 pricier homes ($48K more) · 8 min longer commute
Iron Mountain, MI 49801 88%671$67,337$168,700$125 larger

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.