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 Center, NY 13477

Vernon Center: median income $71,111, home value $137,500, $121/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint John, ND 58369 95%1,227$68,235$135,000— Very close on everything we compare
Crawfordsville, AR 72327 94%959$82,750$119,300— Very close on everything we compare
East Springfield, PA 16411 92%261$66,779$151,700$96 Very close on everything we compare
Gleason, TN 38229 92%840$58,715$146,600$125 larger
Dix, IL 62830 92%771$62,400$137,500$111 Very close on everything we compare
Quitman, LA 71268 92%1,191$69,018$154,500$104 larger
Harrisonburg, LA 71340 92%1,182$65,121$108,200— cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents
Fountain Run, KY 42133 91%704$62,353$163,900$101 pricier homes ($26K more)
Reeds, MO 64859 91%1,064$61,429$122,900$142 Very close on everything we compare
Mooringsport, LA 71060 91%1,232$61,417$142,600$110 larger · older residents
Patrick Springs, VA 24133 90%503$61,964$117,400$142 Very close on everything we compare
Whitakers, NC 27891 90%495$67,942$146,600$133 larger
Maceo, KY 42355 90%702$60,125$144,900$129 Very close on everything we compare
Waverly, KY 42462 90%742$66,373$137,300$147 Very close on everything we compare
Kiowa, OK 74553 90%1,235$59,063$124,100$146 Very close on everything we compare
Shoshoni, WY 82649 90%1,632$69,375$155,100$167 Very close on everything we compare
Texico, NM 88135 90%1,591$70,417$145,000— Very close on everything we compare
Luthersburg, PA 15848 89%215$66,250$138,100— Very close on everything we compare
Pembroke, VA 24136 89%477$70,854$183,300$143 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Columbia, AL 36319 89%966$62,159$165,600$143 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Pope, MS 38658 89%990$78,125$115,900$125 newer homes
Hickory, KY 42051 89%817$76,000$162,800$141 pricier homes ($25K more) · more homeowners
Crown City, OH 45623 89%467$57,118$125,700$143 larger
Orleans, MI 48865 89%484$70,039$141,900$161 younger residents
Quapaw, OK 74363 89%1,099$55,524$113,700$103 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.