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 East Meredith, NY 13757

East Meredith: median income $73,523, home value $225,000, $346/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Monterey, VA 24465 92%371$61,379$202,500$357 Very close on everything we compare
Friendship, ME 04547 91%300$75,625$275,000$242 pricier homes ($50K more)
Goshen, NH 03752 90%153$70,417$255,600$332 pricier homes ($31K more)
Alden, MI 49612 90%543$85,156$271,000$317 pricier homes ($46K more)
Central Lake, MI 49622 90%549$70,098$234,400$278 larger
Penobscot, ME 04476 89%341$63,194$296,400$280 pricier homes ($71K more)
Penn Run, PA 15765 89%245$73,646$186,000— cheaper homes ($39K less)
Bonnots Mill, MO 65016 89%932$78,750$269,400— pricier homes ($44K more)
Tenants Harbor, ME 04860 88%305$86,833$271,400$352 pricier homes ($46K more)
Cook, MN 55723 88%944$64,526$189,700$307 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Falls, PA 18615 87%82$76,184$229,100$253 younger residents
Fairfield, VA 24435 87%390$70,114$203,700$218 larger · younger residents
Mears, MI 49436 87%590$67,279$255,000$285 pricier homes ($30K more)
Conover, WI 54519 87%752$59,628$271,600$271 pricier homes ($47K more)
Stone Lake, WI 54876 87%855$72,794$282,100$340 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · newer homes
Tower, MN 55790 87%924$77,232$328,900$339 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger · older residents
Newfane, VT 05345 86%119$67,472$277,700$231 pricier homes ($53K more)
Pawlet, VT 05761 86%110$68,125$324,300$271 pricier homes ($99K more) · 5 min longer commute
Germfask, MI 49836 86%605$85,500$210,100$254 newer homes
Cornish, NH 03745 85%150$91,821$296,000$292 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger
Whitefield, ME 04353 85%294$73,875$242,300$247 larger · younger residents
Bridport, VT 05734 85%132$81,250$358,600$329 pricier homes ($134K more) · younger residents
Swanton, MD 21561 85%304$73,858$328,700$295 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger
Sawyer, MI 49125 85%599$79,766$342,300$378 pricier homes ($117K more) · larger
Harshaw, WI 54529 85%765$72,000$268,100$311 pricier homes ($43K more) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes

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.