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 Wanchese, NC 27981

Wanchese: median income $88,750, home value $311,800, $185/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Nicollet, MN 56074 92%1,136$92,813$293,700$160 Very close on everything we compare
Utopia, TX 78884 91%1,452$84,271$286,900— smaller · older residents
Delta Junction, AK 99737 91%3,430$83,107$312,600$199 larger
Eagle Lake, MN 56024 90%1,118$95,357$285,600$162 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Vernon, VT 05354 89%505$85,682$285,100$204 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older residents
Eleva, WI 54738 89%1,028$95,179$290,400$191 larger
Elk Mound, WI 54739 89%1,045$88,667$260,400$180 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Ropesville, TX 79358 89%1,511$90,333$217,600$206 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Wentworth, NH 03282 88%587$98,333$304,500$208 smaller · more homeowners
Tolono, IL 61880 88%743$85,536$227,900$147 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Woodburn, KY 42170 87%611$96,111$291,700$114 younger residents
Kalona, IA 52247 87%948$91,450$298,900$151 larger
Burlington, ND 58722 87%1,564$85,417$275,000$159 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 6 min longer commute
Afton, WY 83110 87%1,931$86,731$381,100$250 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger
Bangor, WI 54614 86%981$85,588$250,300$171 cheaper homes ($62K less) · 6 min longer commute
Alanson, MI 49706 85%816$76,906$248,500$235 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · more homeowners
Farley, IA 52046 85%938$96,151$273,600$137 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · older homes
Lewisville, ID 83431 85%1,988$90,833$241,700$208 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller
Garland, UT 84312 85%1,992$83,088$398,400$185 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger · younger residents
Dillingham, AK 99576 85%3,894$99,125$288,400$180 8 min shorter commute
La Fayette, NY 13084 84%486$91,389$227,200$157 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger
Windsor, WI 53598 84%887$106,476$399,800$213 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger
Fall River, WI 53932 84%882$85,781$309,400$162 10 min longer commute
Galesville, WI 54630 84%1,005$95,549$272,300$153 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Medford, MN 55049 84%1,091$90,625$247,800$166 cheaper homes ($64K less) · more homeowners

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.