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 Chelsea, MI 48118

Chelsea: median income $88,278, home value $357,200, $219/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bristol, VT 05443 94%566$88,594$356,600$238 smaller
Export, PA 15632 94%264$93,664$291,400$200 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Gainesville, FL 32653 94%872$93,913$301,700$197 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Topsham, ME 04086 93%719$91,028$360,800$296 Very close on everything we compare
Chestertown, MD 21620 92%468$80,530$347,500$228 younger residents
Gray, ME 04039 91%698$95,125$357,500$270 smaller · younger residents
Ballston Lake, NY 12019 91%519$112,420$400,400$271 pricier homes ($43K more)
Valatie, NY 12184 91%529$98,622$355,200$276 smaller
Clarks Summit, PA 18411 91%432$98,824$292,500$197 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Pottstown, PA 19465 91%459$107,825$404,500$233 pricier homes ($47K more)
Granby, CT 06035 90%576$107,957$350,500$221 smaller
Clarence, NY 14031 90%279$103,750$343,700$249 Very close on everything we compare
Hendersonville, NC 28791 90%489$78,827$370,700$236 7 min shorter commute
Jacksonville, FL 32223 90%851$95,347$409,900$225 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Broadview Heights, OH 44147 90%140$103,125$316,700$200 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Cicero, IN 46034 90%184$91,466$311,100$210 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Belchertown, MA 01007 89%594$108,125$371,400$258 Very close on everything we compare
Savannah, GA 31410 89%731$97,807$407,700$259 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Merritt Island, FL 32952 89%989$102,726$425,700$253 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger
Canfield, OH 44406 89%191$98,693$286,400$174 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger
Cambridge, WI 53523 89%258$102,188$345,300$219 smaller
Mound, MN 55364 89%514$108,725$459,400$260 pricier homes ($102K more)
Saint Louis, MO 63128 89%426$92,359$338,700$176 larger
Suffield, CT 06078 88%583$116,054$412,400$255 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($55K more)
Landisville, PA 17538 88%425$86,719$299,300$188 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller

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.