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 Verona, VA 24482

Verona: median income $75,866, home value $262,000, $224/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Frazee, MN 56544 94%1,025$72,885$245,400$189 Very close on everything we compare
Lennox, SD 57039 94%998$83,787$290,400$230 pricier homes ($28K more)
Parsonsburg, MD 21849 93%192$71,211$249,200$213 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Smithville, OH 44677 93%238$75,435$230,600$247 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Grangeville, ID 83530 93%1,957$79,477$324,000$269 pricier homes ($62K more)
Eagar, AZ 85925 93%1,705$82,708$248,400$227 Very close on everything we compare
Delta Junction, AK 99737 93%3,193$83,107$312,600$199 pricier homes ($51K more)
Warren, ME 04864 92%651$74,616$232,700$251 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 5 min longer commute
Stevens, PA 17578 92%206$81,990$314,900$196 pricier homes ($53K more)
New Bremen, OH 45869 92%326$88,277$249,700$183 Very close on everything we compare
Alanson, MI 49706 92%582$76,906$248,500$235 Very close on everything we compare
Seymour, WI 54165 92%650$87,048$247,000$189 5 min longer commute
Monroe, UT 84754 92%1,783$72,794$304,600$169 pricier homes ($43K more)
Jonestown, PA 17038 91%204$75,417$252,600$193 larger
Otsego, MI 49078 91%460$77,778$197,500$190 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Cuba City, WI 53807 91%675$77,887$225,500$158 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Buhl, ID 83316 91%1,892$69,593$310,300$240 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Vernon, VT 05354 90%464$85,682$285,100$204 smaller
Walkertown, NC 27051 90%154$74,804$209,900$181 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Doylestown, OH 44230 90%238$79,526$229,000$189 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Lima, OH 45806 90%322$82,587$212,400$171 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Lawton, MI 49065 90%452$71,447$233,100$219 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 8 min longer commute
Westby, WI 54667 90%724$75,774$224,200$173 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 6 min longer commute
Paynesville, MN 56362 90%947$86,212$258,900$188 6 min longer commute
Boulder, MT 59632 90%1,768$68,750$278,800$180 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.