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 Rockbridge, OH 43149

Rockbridge: median income $57,500, home value $257,600, $342/sq ft, 40-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Orland, ME 04472 92%788$69,022$275,300$295 Very close on everything we compare
Campo, CA 91906 91%1,940$62,500$327,600$294 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger
Greentown, PA 18426 90%402$63,219$272,300$218 larger
Waterford, ME 04088 89%688$63,750$276,800$329 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Hillsboro, WV 24946 89%159$60,625$227,000— cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Hancock, WI 54943 89%478$62,500$207,100$250 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Jumping Branch, WV 25969 88%158$60,250$182,300— cheaper homes ($75K less)
Baker, WV 26801 88%205$56,429$206,700$238 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Crane Hill, AL 35053 88%452$56,167$264,500$369 larger
Finlayson, MN 55735 88%697$63,827$271,200$284 7 min shorter commute
Hillman, MN 56338 88%728$70,938$289,600$295 pricier homes ($32K more)
Isle, MN 56342 88%716$63,295$246,500$269 older residents
Thornton, TX 76687 88%963$73,323$254,500$326 newer homes
Cat Spring, TX 78933 88%1,035$68,444$272,600$293 smaller · newer homes
Danbury, NH 03230 87%616$71,685$240,700$272 Very close on everything we compare
Gouldsboro, ME 04607 87%816$60,152$253,400$270 smaller · older residents
Stahlstown, PA 15687 87%175$54,798$189,500$242 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller
Ten Mile, TN 37880 87%291$65,208$215,900$258 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Walling, TN 38587 87%304$51,500$249,600$248 Very close on everything we compare
Remer, MN 56672 87%771$61,842$274,000$352 8 min shorter commute
Sutton, AK 99674 87%3,104$63,688$233,800$269 8 min shorter commute
Dunnsville, VA 22454 86%330$49,480$247,800$238 Very close on everything we compare
Free Soil, MI 49411 86%368$61,857$239,400$235 older residents
Hadley, NY 12835 85%521$66,992$224,100$282 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Neshkoro, WI 54960 85%456$66,625$233,900$262 older residents

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.