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 Beach Lake, PA 18405

Beach Lake: median income $72,472, home value $253,700, $146/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Eddington, ME 04428 94%396$72,857$244,500$159 Very close on everything we compare
Brooker, FL 32622 93%901$72,639$233,100$162 smaller
Grafton, IL 62037 93%826$73,454$228,500$143 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Lometa, TX 76853 93%1,473$71,500$245,500$154 Very close on everything we compare
Remsen, NY 13438 92%120$69,797$192,900$135 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Westfield, NC 27053 92%453$67,974$224,500$180 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Alburgh, VT 05440 91%234$76,429$268,300$199 Very close on everything we compare
Hurdle Mills, NC 27541 91%427$75,305$237,000$202 Very close on everything we compare
Frederic, WI 54837 91%905$71,010$222,300$195 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Milan, NH 03588 90%286$71,538$253,500$155 6 min shorter commute
Franklin, ME 04634 90%404$67,589$264,600$166 6 min shorter commute
Saluda, VA 23149 90%288$70,743$282,500$206 pricier homes ($29K more)
Ashley, OH 43003 90%417$69,852$230,800$190 larger · younger residents
Boyceville, WI 54725 90%881$71,745$207,500$134 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Luck, WI 54853 90%906$75,000$245,100$215 Very close on everything we compare
Alstead, NH 03602 89%177$70,455$279,400$216 pricier homes ($26K more)
Danville, VT 05828 89%247$72,121$279,100$208 pricier homes ($25K more)
Northville, NY 12134 89%123$77,928$222,600$176 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Sparrow Bush, NY 12780 89%23$74,468$221,700$190 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Friendsville, MD 21531 89%262$63,750$180,300$145 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Berlin Center, OH 44401 89%304$71,953$237,300$171 younger residents
Stockbridge, MI 49285 89%468$73,375$210,100$152 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Eastman, WI 54626 89%818$69,926$253,000$136 smaller
Plattsburg, MO 64477 89%1,021$64,643$238,900$172 more renters
Jamestown, MO 65046 89%935$76,458$210,100$170 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 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.