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 Vernon, NY 13476

Vernon: median income $62,798, home value $204,000, $148/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glenns Ferry, ID 83623 92%1,989$58,145$217,600$146 smaller
Flora, IN 46929 91%590$56,940$186,500$129 Very close on everything we compare
Horicon, WI 53032 91%657$56,085$189,000$165 larger
Merrill, OR 97633 90%2,314$62,019$205,900$152 smaller
Canton, PA 17724 89%120$55,817$175,000$122 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Sigourney, IA 52591 89%859$62,404$156,500$130 cheaper homes ($48K less) · more single-family homes
Lancaster, NH 03584 88%222$66,768$209,500$163 older residents
Mars Hill, ME 04758 88%445$65,156$162,200$120 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · newer homes
Hallstead, PA 18822 88%79$60,132$204,100$135 newer homes
Midland, PA 15059 87%303$66,231$137,500$131 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Duryea, PA 18642 87%121$61,250$158,700$140 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Athens, PA 18810 87%92$58,750$208,400$139 larger
Gaylord, MN 55334 87%932$66,149$192,800$144 younger residents · newer homes
Preston, MN 55965 87%830$65,577$206,700$163 Very close on everything we compare
Dwight, IL 60420 87%673$71,157$167,100$151 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Herminie, PA 15637 86%291$70,461$220,600$159 more single-family homes
Olivia, MN 56277 86%970$70,326$184,500$133 Very close on everything we compare
Viborg, SD 57070 86%1,084$61,522$215,800$230 smaller
Webster, SD 57274 86%1,095$68,083$173,200$139 cheaper homes ($31K less) · newer homes
Alma, KS 66401 86%1,113$73,516$220,900$176 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, VT 05156 85%156$66,679$204,300$162 larger
Shamokin Dam, PA 17876 85%168$70,972$203,500$110 more walkable
Pioneer, OH 43554 85%468$52,917$161,000$119 cheaper homes ($43K less)
West Unity, OH 43570 85%465$68,500$129,600$137 cheaper homes ($74K less)
South Charleston, OH 45368 85%475$60,850$168,600$153 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · older residents

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.