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.

Reset

Towns most like Varysburg, NY 14167

Varysburg: median income $67,132, home value $150,000, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mapleton Depot, PA 17052 97%164$67,115$133,900$101 Very close on everything we compare
Sherwood, MI 49089 95%357$69,286$128,800$202 Very close on everything we compare
Creal Springs, IL 62922 95%658$74,245$175,100$202 pricier homes ($25K more)
Karns City, PA 16041 94%140$67,167$146,800$139 Very close on everything we compare
Jumping Branch, WV 25969 94%381$60,250$182,300— pricier homes ($32K more)
Amsterdam, OH 43903 94%208$73,281$135,500$99 Very close on everything we compare
Oakley, MI 48649 94%299$72,609$164,200$117 Very close on everything we compare
Floodwood, MN 55736 94%770$65,179$164,500$180 Very close on everything we compare
Mayville, MI 48744 93%259$67,944$159,800$162 larger
Daggett, MI 49821 93%498$58,750$164,300$162 Very close on everything we compare
Sheldon, WI 54766 93%650$66,050$150,500$103 younger residents
New Boston, IL 61272 93%659$64,167$145,900$110 younger residents
Yorktown, TX 78164 93%1,428$67,578$171,300$101 larger
Templeton, PA 16259 92%138$59,861$146,400$44 Very close on everything we compare
Merrill, MI 48637 92%307$65,865$158,600$131 larger
Six Lakes, MI 48886 92%348$61,667$165,600$179 5 min shorter commute
Hubbard Lake, MI 49747 92%303$73,233$179,500$196 pricier homes ($30K more)
Lacona, IA 50139 92%780$72,400$151,600$170 smaller
Farina, IL 62838 92%609$82,976$133,300$63 Very close on everything we compare
Cherry Tree, PA 15724 91%140$67,500$110,100$102 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Peterstown, WV 24963 91%390$55,179$145,700$107 larger
Fairview, WV 26570 91%239$71,048$155,800$158 larger
Losantville, IN 47354 91%403$66,566$120,900$98 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Bancroft, MI 48414 91%294$68,214$195,300$186 pricier homes ($45K more)
Bentley, MI 48613 91%302$58,846$160,900— smaller

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.