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 Bulger, PA 15019

Bulger: median income $32,926, home value $157,800, $200/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lynch Station, VA 24571 84%231$32,218$169,200$219 larger
Falmouth, MI 49632 82%357$46,696$151,000$171 Very close on everything we compare
Bitely, MI 49309 81%364$42,566$151,600$214 larger · 8 min longer commute
Crab Orchard, WV 25827 80%190$41,198$125,600$135 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Hot Springs, MT 59845 80%1,759$31,970$191,100$179 pricier homes ($33K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Damascus, VA 24236 79%271$28,983$139,300$221 larger · 5 min longer commute
Rose City, MI 48654 78%337$45,202$140,800$145 larger
Green Castle, MO 63544 78%659$44,167$109,400— cheaper homes ($48K less)
Gainesville, MO 65655 78%702$37,337$176,000$145 larger · older residents · newer homes
Maynard, AR 72444 78%631$32,276$152,800— larger · 9 min longer commute · newer homes
Kosse, TX 76653 78%1,103$48,500$150,200$190 Very close on everything we compare
Cherryfield, ME 04622 77%695$43,854$165,900$251 more renters · newer homes
Meadows Of Dan, VA 24120 77%254$46,901$205,200$220 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Volga, WV 26238 77%92$47,951$133,000$172 Very close on everything we compare
Stantonville, TN 38379 77%569$41,136$170,800$250 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Karnack, TX 75661 77%936$41,929$158,500$258 larger · newer homes
Addison, ME 04606 76%705$50,524$163,500$191 Very close on everything we compare
Phillips, ME 04966 76%593$47,969$176,500$208 larger
Rawlings, MD 21557 76%98$34,936$123,300$148 cheaper homes ($35K less) · younger residents · more renters
Shaw, MS 38773 76%741$30,661$110,400— cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · more renters
Hopedale, OH 43976 76%29$41,651$106,500$152 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Cotter, AR 72626 76%718$36,417$266,000$161 pricier homes ($108K more) · older residents
Ronceverte, WV 24970 75%184$44,118$120,800$190 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · younger residents
Mikado, MI 48745 75%328$49,844$157,800$187 Very close on everything we compare
Pembine, WI 54156 75%526$49,625$129,300$172 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 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.