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 Machias, NY 14101

Machias: median income $73,116, home value $98,600, $117/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ewing, VA 24248 93%480$78,281$100,000$99 Very close on everything we compare
Alum Creek, WV 25003 93%334$64,631$114,900— Very close on everything we compare
Imboden, AR 72434 93%801$77,734$109,300$137 5 min longer commute
Jonesville, SC 29353 92%551$64,494$116,800$152 larger
Bertrand, MO 63823 92%695$62,656$105,600$97 Very close on everything we compare
Weedville, PA 15868 91%79$70,395$112,200— younger residents
Woodland, PA 16881 91%97$66,458$113,300$124 more homeowners
Scottsburg, VA 24589 91%389$77,593$110,600$124 Very close on everything we compare
Medora, IN 47260 91%473$73,370$96,500$102 Very close on everything we compare
Dugger, IN 47848 91%513$60,581$97,500$116 Very close on everything we compare
Watson, IL 62473 91%577$74,700$104,800$120 smaller · younger residents
Noble, IL 62868 91%570$61,645$116,300— Very close on everything we compare
Newcastle, TX 76372 91%1,271$69,167$106,600$133 smaller · younger residents
Crawfordsville, AR 72327 90%807$82,750$119,300— smaller
Pitts, GA 31072 89%774$62,794$99,500$109 smaller
Unadilla, GA 31091 89%758$72,386$82,600$119 larger
Noxapater, MS 39346 89%871$62,439$99,600— Very close on everything we compare
Oakwood, IL 61858 89%507$56,415$125,500$101 pricier homes ($27K more)
Thomasboro, IL 61878 89%524$66,250$118,700$107 smaller
Granite, OK 73547 89%1,234$64,444$120,500$117 Very close on everything we compare
Polk, PA 16342 88%103$63,750$114,700$123 Very close on everything we compare
Grampian, PA 16838 88%99$57,917$118,400— Very close on everything we compare
Prichard, WV 25555 88%359$66,853$98,600$123 younger residents
Middlebourne, WV 26149 88%237$71,786$159,900$138 pricier homes ($61K more)
Montezuma, IN 47862 88%495$65,625$108,800$86 older 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.