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 Castorland, NY 13620

Castorland: median income $70,087, home value $181,800, $79/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hennessey, OK 73742 94%1,299$70,538$171,800$92 larger
Rome, PA 18837 92%146$71,131$188,100$101 Very close on everything we compare
Pantego, NC 27860 91%575$62,083$145,300— cheaper homes ($37K less)
Chilton, TX 76632 91%1,461$76,193$156,700— cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Huntington, UT 84528 91%1,847$71,053$206,100— older residents
Harrah, WA 98933 91%2,175$75,972$241,400— pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller
Lesage, WV 25537 90%515$68,385$188,700$78 newer homes
Weston, OH 43569 90%458$70,898$159,400$105 Very close on everything we compare
Cass Lake, MN 56633 90%953$67,981$166,400$105 larger
Farwell, TX 79325 90%1,605$71,771$163,400— 6 min shorter commute
Minneota, MN 56264 89%1,014$81,071$189,600$81 Very close on everything we compare
Ashley, IL 62808 89%813$69,015$146,600$77 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents
Buhler, KS 67522 89%1,225$72,622$146,300$109 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Oak Ridge, LA 71264 89%1,174$68,750$158,100— smaller · 6 min longer commute
Mooreland, OK 73852 89%1,348$66,229$161,200$88 more homeowners
Steens, MS 39766 88%992$65,707$162,700— newer homes
Cumberland, OH 43732 88%423$72,500$155,300$99 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Ashley, IN 46705 88%513$67,266$159,700$131 Very close on everything we compare
Dorchester, WI 54425 88%738$63,424$175,000$101 Very close on everything we compare
Loyal, WI 54446 88%744$74,342$159,600$112 larger
Renville, MN 56284 88%975$72,500$162,500$116 Very close on everything we compare
Velva, ND 58790 88%1,251$83,233$224,600$108 pricier homes ($43K more)
Puxico, MO 63960 88%908$57,875$146,500$67 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Gibbon, NE 68840 88%1,211$76,394$208,100$91 pricier homes ($26K more)
Sonora, TX 76950 88%1,653$78,844$157,000$104 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.