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 Westfield, NY 14787

Westfield: median income $53,587, home value $118,400, $113/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Caribou, ME 04736 87%649$54,368$139,000$139 larger · newer homes
Hampton, IA 50441 87%694$49,910$127,100$102 more single-family homes
Fairbury, NE 68352 87%926$55,370$132,200$107 younger residents · more single-family homes
Ridgway, PA 15853 86%79$59,344$109,400— Very close on everything we compare
Warren, PA 16365 86%39$59,206$122,500$90 larger
Bessemer, MI 49911 86%591$57,000$106,300$87 smaller · more single-family homes
Raton, NM 87740 86%1,370$52,815$153,100$114 pricier homes ($35K more) · newer homes
Menominee, MI 49858 85%446$53,186$134,400$131 larger · newer homes
Virginia, MN 55792 85%728$53,750$129,500$87 larger
Mount Morris, IL 61054 85%505$47,467$121,400$103 6 min longer commute
Calumet, MI 49913 84%552$53,571$110,200$97 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Shenandoah, IA 51601 84%823$62,143$124,200$110 more single-family homes
Chisholm, MN 55719 84%741$53,647$123,100$106 more single-family homes
Hibbing, MN 55746 84%742$55,823$134,600$116 larger
Charleston, WV 25302 83%291$55,210$155,300$93 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Escanaba, MI 49829 83%442$50,277$146,300$123 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Iowa Falls, IA 50126 83%698$55,185$133,300$104 more single-family homes · newer homes
Berlin, NH 03570 82%446$45,180$131,000$98 larger
Dunbar, WV 25064 82%296$57,263$119,900$116 larger · younger residents
Emmetsburg, IA 50536 82%768$59,261$122,000$112 more single-family homes · newer homes
Centerville, IA 52544 82%696$50,572$116,900$119 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Appleton, MN 56208 82%842$59,766$102,800$114 smaller · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Benson, MN 56215 82%823$56,604$167,500$99 pricier homes ($49K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Madison, MN 56256 82%848$65,521$124,200$119 smaller · more single-family homes
Milan, MO 63556 82%719$58,851$124,100$107 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.