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 Toms Brook, VA 22660

Toms Brook: median income $67,917, home value $268,600, $261/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wassaic, NY 12592 92%323$71,696$267,500— Very close on everything we compare
Hustisford, WI 53034 92%609$78,661$234,900$212 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Norwood Young America, MN 55368 91%891$71,250$309,800$189 pricier homes ($41K more)
Saint Mary, MO 63673 91%629$77,931$235,900$185 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Mossyrock, WA 98564 91%2,265$60,147$323,500$284 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger
Mount Morris, PA 15349 90%102$68,125$204,200$218 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Savoy, TX 75479 90%1,062$74,803$209,500$207 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Big Piney, WY 83113 90%1,667$75,385$282,100$215 larger
Pinehurst, ID 83850 90%1,972$67,574$297,800$253 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Cornish, ME 04020 89%518$69,038$274,200$201 Very close on everything we compare
Theresa, WI 53091 89%608$82,750$208,300$270 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Norwood, MO 65717 89%771$61,146$207,000$293 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Alamo, NV 89001 89%1,993$71,386$208,200$232 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Mill City, OR 97360 89%2,274$67,250$310,100$278 pricier homes ($42K more) · younger residents
Drain, OR 97435 89%2,322$52,067$315,100$270 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Darrington, WA 98241 89%2,221$73,185$395,000$278 pricier homes ($126K more) · larger
Hiram, ME 04041 88%519$62,813$256,600$325 more single-family homes
Mechanic Falls, ME 04256 88%548$69,914$270,900$213 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Stuyvesant, NY 12173 88%340$76,607$225,600$228 cheaper homes ($43K less) · younger residents
Richfield, NC 28137 88%262$67,163$252,700$215 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Astatula, FL 34705 88%732$74,063$268,000$231 larger · newer homes
Vanleer, TN 37181 88%528$78,625$215,500$259 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 5 min longer commute
South Rockwood, MI 48179 88%333$77,095$232,800$226 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Askov, MN 55704 88%882$62,500$234,300$208 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Vaughn, MT 59487 88%1,755$56,359$229,300$232 cheaper homes ($39K less)

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.