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 Swanton, MD 21561

Swanton: median income $73,858, home value $328,700, $295/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Surry, ME 04684 94%650$74,508$296,300$251 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Saluda, NC 28773 94%338$70,703$413,700$319 pricier homes ($85K more)
Tower, MN 55790 94%868$77,232$328,900$339 Very close on everything we compare
Merrifield, MN 56465 93%895$74,400$372,100$337 pricier homes ($43K more)
Dent, MN 56528 93%965$79,500$319,300$248 Very close on everything we compare
Lovell, ME 04051 92%536$80,625$295,000$233 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Hancock, ME 04640 92%662$71,699$269,100$292 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Deltaville, VA 23043 92%205$70,625$420,600$315 pricier homes ($92K more)
Beulah, MI 49617 92%497$74,207$304,000$352 Very close on everything we compare
Iron River, WI 54847 92%785$68,795$266,600$236 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Nevis, MN 56467 92%937$74,297$318,000$263 7 min shorter commute
Sheridan, MT 59749 92%1,716$80,238$382,400$332 pricier homes ($54K more)
Pawlet, VT 05761 91%414$68,125$324,300$271 smaller
Warriors Mark, PA 16877 91%107$68,500$307,700— smaller
Maggie Valley, NC 28751 91%345$69,057$313,500$292 larger
Hazelhurst, WI 54531 91%688$84,286$344,900$286 smaller
Ottertail, MN 56571 91%951$85,865$363,100$291 pricier homes ($34K more)
Cascade, MT 59421 91%1,704$78,125$377,900$267 pricier homes ($49K more)
Waterford, ME 04088 90%546$63,750$276,800$329 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Kents Hill, ME 04349 90%582$59,500$257,600$307 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller
Georgetown, ME 04548 90%574$84,250$427,200$321 pricier homes ($99K more) · smaller
Lancaster, VA 22503 90%190$74,051$272,000$211 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Gregory, MI 48137 90%328$78,973$306,800$228 larger
Indian River, MI 49749 90%493$65,608$244,300$234 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Harshaw, WI 54529 90%680$72,000$268,100$311 cheaper homes ($61K 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.