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 Walton, NY 13856

Walton: median income $48,958, home value $156,500, $194/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Caribou, ME 04736 93%478$54,368$139,000$139 larger
Oscoda, MI 48750 91%441$45,561$119,200$171 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Hart, MI 49420 91%574$58,841$167,000$188 Very close on everything we compare
Sharpsville, PA 16150 89%281$56,334$148,200$147 Very close on everything we compare
Clyde, OH 43410 89%408$52,500$164,900$161 larger
Walsenburg, CO 81089 89%1,593$52,280$191,800$154 pricier homes ($35K more)
Bedford, PA 15522 88%232$57,029$197,200$152 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Painter, VA 23420 88%319$52,831$158,400$214 smaller
Ronceverte, WV 24970 88%416$44,118$120,800$190 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
East Tawas, MI 48730 88%444$49,823$157,200$172 older residents
Independence, VA 24348 87%499$44,829$155,500$173 newer homes
Petersburg, WV 26847 87%303$52,139$180,400$162 newer homes
Menominee, MI 49858 87%655$53,186$134,400$131 larger
Lanse, MI 49946 87%726$55,341$130,900$206 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Miami, AZ 85539 87%2,026$47,807$137,500$174 smaller · younger residents
Derry, PA 15627 86%252$59,398$157,000$164 6 min longer commute
Lake Linden, MI 49945 86%731$59,453$159,100$162 smaller
Ladysmith, WI 54848 86%826$56,736$154,100$169 Very close on everything we compare
Anaconda, MT 59711 86%1,877$58,157$237,200$189 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger
Morrill, NE 69358 86%1,468$52,159$152,800$137 smaller
Groveton, NH 03582 85%248$46,250$122,300$164 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Ravenswood, WV 26164 85%412$45,104$137,300$142 6 min longer commute
Hubbard, OH 44425 85%288$61,568$145,200$155 larger
Del Norte, CO 81132 85%1,676$55,000$209,500$235 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller
Raton, NM 87740 85%1,594$52,815$153,100$114 Very close on everything we compare

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.