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 Milton, TN 37118

Milton: median income $74,592, home value $478,300, $318/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Potter Valley, CA 95469 88%2,018$82,683$529,200$326 pricier homes ($51K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Temple, NH 03084 87%900$94,107$401,000$293 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Washington, NH 03280 86%901$90,096$355,200$289 cheaper homes ($123K less)
Granville, MA 01034 85%828$91,016$356,800$231 cheaper homes ($122K less) · larger
Acton, ME 04001 85%964$78,750$334,300$388 cheaper homes ($144K less) · larger
Boulevard, CA 91905 85%1,728$77,886$394,400$326 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Orland, ME 04472 84%1,093$69,022$275,300$295 cheaper homes ($203K less) · larger
Bentonville, VA 22610 84%478$81,500$337,700$246 cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger · newer homes
Oakham, MA 01068 83%876$102,000$420,100$265 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($58K less)
Deary, ID 83823 83%1,729$78,345$409,300$225 cheaper homes ($69K less) · younger residents
Merlin, OR 97532 83%2,028$81,167$445,400$281 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Holland, MA 01521 82%862$91,979$333,600$359 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger
Hawi, HI 96719 82%4,294$79,471$612,100— pricier homes ($134K more) · larger · younger residents
Barryville, NY 12719 81%718$79,921$328,900$336 cheaper homes ($149K less)
Julian, CA 92036 81%1,735$73,750$591,400$408 pricier homes ($113K more) · larger · more walkable
Twain Harte, CA 95383 81%1,874$86,970$461,100$265 larger
Greenwood, CA 95635 81%1,905$101,250$485,200$250 higher income ($27K more) · newer homes
Pawlet, VT 05761 80%862$68,125$324,300$271 cheaper homes ($154K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Rileyville, VA 22650 80%471$72,226$277,700$307 cheaper homes ($201K less)
Port Haywood, VA 23138 80%556$78,475$277,800$311 cheaper homes ($201K less)
Graford, TX 76449 80%722$72,813$398,700$299 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Kendrick, ID 83537 80%1,730$71,917$327,300$197 cheaper homes ($151K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Rhododendron, OR 97049 80%1,965$92,056$474,200$284 larger · more walkable
Deming, WA 98244 80%2,013$67,159$447,000$394 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Blandford, MA 01008 79%831$97,554$295,200$257 cheaper homes ($183K 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.