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 Blue Ridge, VA 24064

Blue Ridge: median income $73,583, home value $271,300, $162/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bovey, MN 55709 98%970$75,652$225,700$168 cheaper homes ($46K less)
York Springs, PA 17372 96%233$82,313$282,700$158 Very close on everything we compare
Wattsburg, PA 16442 95%321$73,571$201,400$172 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller
Jeromesville, OH 44840 95%269$83,021$235,500$173 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Fairland, IN 46126 95%363$70,607$263,300$157 Very close on everything we compare
Perry, MI 48872 95%442$79,333$236,700$160 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Pleasant Garden, NC 27313 94%99$80,875$237,300$168 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Oakboro, NC 28129 94%151$69,906$266,800$209 Very close on everything we compare
Dassel, MN 55325 94%921$87,137$307,600$184 pricier homes ($36K more)
Barnum, MN 55707 94%910$82,167$246,400$189 Very close on everything we compare
Laporte, MN 56461 94%1,020$78,188$273,700$193 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Ann, NY 12827 93%534$81,424$218,000$175 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Catawba, NC 28609 93%137$77,679$245,900$190 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Clayton, IN 46118 93%394$78,298$276,900$166 Very close on everything we compare
Albion, IN 46701 93%405$78,385$211,600$146 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Sunman, IN 47041 93%313$81,016$287,400$179 Very close on everything we compare
Birch Run, MI 48415 93%457$79,067$210,200$162 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Marcellus, MI 49067 93%451$74,583$210,800$147 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Clinton, MI 49236 93%390$79,783$230,300$175 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Pleasant Lake, MI 49272 93%421$84,107$233,300$183 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Spring Valley, WI 54767 93%827$83,917$265,000$190 Very close on everything we compare
West Fork, AR 72774 93%805$76,316$225,700$184 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Waterford, PA 16441 92%316$81,117$223,900$153 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Wellsville, PA 17365 92%241$91,742$261,800$155 smaller
Germansville, PA 18053 92%318$83,370$303,100$176 pricier homes ($32K more) · 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.