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 Cerulean, KY 42215

Cerulean: median income $83,098, home value $201,300, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kenduskeag, ME 04450 95%1,118$79,792$177,900$294 Very close on everything we compare
Lyndon Station, WI 53944 92%480$72,614$201,700$216 larger
Ray, ND 58849 92%1,109$82,250$269,800$136 pricier homes ($69K more)
Union Grove, NC 28689 91%381$70,565$157,100$244 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Hope Hull, AL 36043 91%334$73,571$195,800$125 larger
Ama, LA 70031 91%507$73,359$218,600$63 Very close on everything we compare
Bradley, ME 04411 90%1,132$76,667$201,800$152 Very close on everything we compare
Wysox, PA 18854 90%688$77,917$207,300$143 Very close on everything we compare
North Troy, VT 05859 89%965$84,813$232,200$141 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Warrens, WI 54666 89%520$78,015$220,500$150 larger
Sheldon, VT 05483 88%941$78,505$246,500$211 pricier homes ($45K more)
Porter Corners, NY 12859 88%845$71,250$210,200$275 Very close on everything we compare
Fenelton, PA 16034 88%504$88,300$214,300$236 Very close on everything we compare
Laceyville, PA 18623 88%696$74,798$176,800$85 larger
Reedsville, WV 26547 88%461$76,084$204,000$178 larger
Talmo, GA 30575 88%292$84,750$269,600$169 pricier homes ($68K more) · younger residents
Duncan, AZ 85534 88%1,250$76,250$167,800— cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · older homes
Carmel, ME 04419 87%1,112$82,188$256,800$231 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Bowersville, GA 30516 87%313$77,818$189,600$203 younger residents
Ochlocknee, GA 31773 87%462$80,125$196,300$143 larger
Shellsburg, IA 52332 87%420$92,708$198,000$155 Very close on everything we compare
Knapp, WI 54749 87%599$77,903$215,200$107 6 min longer commute
Livonia, LA 70755 87%495$86,071$192,200$152 more single-family homes
Quitman, LA 71268 87%428$69,018$154,500$104 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Royal, AR 71968 87%357$75,592$215,000$189 larger

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.