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 Sanborn, NY 14132

Sanborn: median income $97,210, home value $284,900, $209/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mineral Point, WI 53565 94%570$84,589$269,800$183 Very close on everything we compare
Fredonia, WI 53021 92%457$89,779$315,800$216 pricier homes ($31K more)
Random Lake, WI 53075 92%458$93,750$297,100$212 smaller
Germantown, OH 45327 91%374$94,741$218,900$181 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Madrid, IA 50156 91%766$98,054$243,800$166 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Oostburg, WI 53070 91%449$91,557$282,000$194 newer homes
Kenyon, MN 55946 91%710$85,781$261,300$178 smaller
Beresford, SD 57004 91%901$88,750$264,100$168 smaller
Jaffrey, NH 03452 90%347$92,330$245,500$265 cheaper homes ($39K less) · newer homes
Elmer, NJ 08318 90%313$92,558$302,000$198 larger · newer homes
Biglerville, PA 17307 90%237$88,571$258,200$171 cheaper homes ($27K less) · newer homes
Sparrows Point, MD 21219 90%298$110,438$384,600$243 pricier homes ($100K more)
Burton, OH 44021 90%165$82,008$242,900$170 cheaper homes ($42K less) · younger residents
Wakarusa, IN 46573 90%381$85,750$241,100$156 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Ottawa Lake, MI 49267 90%263$97,961$267,900$176 smaller · older residents
Clinton, WI 53525 90%507$79,323$248,100$189 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Randolph, WI 53956 90%509$84,231$232,800$226 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Paynesville, MN 56362 90%798$86,212$258,900$188 cheaper homes ($26K less) · newer homes
Stafford Springs, CT 06076 89%345$92,016$267,300$219 larger · newer homes
Robesonia, PA 19551 89%239$90,504$264,200$183 newer homes
Clinton, OH 44216 89%206$98,776$236,300$203 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Seville, OH 44273 89%212$96,431$275,400$216 newer homes
North Lawrence, OH 44666 89%213$101,310$220,000$194 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Thorntown, IN 46071 89%450$85,000$240,200$154 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
De Witt, IA 52742 89%600$97,946$261,000$165 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.