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 Dauphin, PA 17018

Dauphin: median income $72,188, home value $238,700, $170/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pittsford, VT 05763 93%305$71,833$218,600$186 Very close on everything we compare
Washington, WV 26181 93%264$73,977$197,700$147 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Three Oaks, MI 49128 92%514$67,398$258,300$192 Very close on everything we compare
Bemus Point, NY 14712 91%176$86,083$236,300$190 Very close on everything we compare
Lancaster, VA 22503 91%184$74,051$272,000$211 pricier homes ($33K more) · 6 min longer commute
Waterford, OH 45786 91%257$70,917$218,500$140 Very close on everything we compare
Bear Lake, MI 49614 91%546$72,250$223,100$201 Very close on everything we compare
Amherst, WI 54406 91%689$77,533$284,800$186 pricier homes ($46K more)
Shaftsbury, VT 05262 90%261$71,417$253,600$208 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Willsboro, NY 12996 90%329$69,766$237,900$207 smaller · older homes
Fairfield, VA 24435 90%215$70,114$203,700$218 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Chester, VT 05143 89%299$70,610$255,200$230 Very close on everything we compare
Newfane, VT 05345 89%283$67,472$277,700$231 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
State Road, NC 28676 89%351$60,833$242,600$191 Very close on everything we compare
Milan, OH 44846 89%304$93,333$243,500$180 Very close on everything we compare
Shell Lake, WI 54871 89%843$69,342$241,000$163 younger residents
Silver Bay, MN 55614 89%858$72,981$181,700$156 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Glenwood, MN 56334 89%998$69,525$279,900$191 pricier homes ($41K more)
Centertown, MO 65023 89%833$72,663$221,200$193 smaller
Brandon, VT 05733 88%308$68,831$248,200$218 larger · 6 min longer commute
West Rutland, VT 05777 88%297$64,044$214,700$173 older homes
Fabius, NY 13063 88%177$84,063$230,200$161 smaller
Bloomfield, NY 14469 88%175$74,521$204,400$182 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Glen Dale, WV 26038 88%203$76,875$207,500$148 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more walkable
Ceresco, NE 68017 88%1,031$69,375$230,000$186 smaller · younger residents

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.