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 Lake Helen, FL 32744

Lake Helen: median income $112,599, home value $453,700, $238/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chichester, NH 03258 93%1,126$108,906$410,100$271 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Midland, VA 22728 93%692$120,789$516,300$262 pricier homes ($63K more)
Kingston Springs, TN 37082 93%599$98,361$418,800$256 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
North Berwick, ME 03906 92%1,149$105,156$432,900$325 Very close on everything we compare
New Egypt, NJ 08533 92%856$113,583$492,500$279 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Cochranville, PA 19330 92%811$109,779$387,100$223 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Woodsboro, MD 21798 92%763$116,607$498,400$198 pricier homes ($45K more)
Shenandoah Junction, WV 25442 92%744$111,419$393,600$200 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Woodbridge, CA 95258 92%2,373$93,854$559,800$312 pricier homes ($106K more)
Carlton, OR 97111 92%2,532$108,453$520,400$314 pricier homes ($67K more)
East Taunton, MA 02718 91%1,059$109,500$469,200$300 larger
New Ipswich, NH 03071 91%1,085$110,507$392,400$278 cheaper homes ($61K less) · younger residents
Middletown, VA 22645 91%715$90,875$419,900$219 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Lindstrom, MN 55045 91%1,298$108,929$390,500$208 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Maple Park, IL 60151 91%985$117,450$347,400$193 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Hayden, CO 81639 91%1,669$110,404$443,600$354 Very close on everything we compare
Tacoma, WA 98443 91%2,527$105,035$519,100$320 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger · older homes
Templeton, MA 01468 90%1,067$113,427$384,500$271 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Hope Valley, RI 02832 90%1,017$105,976$432,300$270 Very close on everything we compare
Fremont, NH 03044 90%1,119$120,781$416,900$325 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Florida, NY 10921 90%937$115,221$387,300$277 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Troy, VA 22974 90%644$112,344$368,900$271 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Virginia Beach, VA 23457 90%608$116,250$571,000$312 pricier homes ($117K more)
Pegram, TN 37143 90%597$96,929$392,400$234 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Springfield, NE 68059 90%1,184$98,238$367,200$197 cheaper homes ($87K less) · 5 min shorter commute

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.