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 Port Austin, MI 48467

Port Austin: median income $53,750, home value $172,500, $189/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lubec, ME 04652 93%788$52,083$187,800$221 smaller
Fancy Gap, VA 24328 93%523$56,659$165,100$165 Very close on everything we compare
Keosauqua, IA 52565 92%511$62,992$149,000$202 smaller
Hopwood, PA 15445 89%334$47,955$179,000$140 younger residents
Patten, ME 04765 87%722$50,286$121,400$179 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller · younger residents
Westover, MD 21871 87%557$50,524$185,900$189 7 min longer commute
Florence, WI 54121 87%287$58,750$189,600$194 younger residents
East Concord, NY 14055 85%243$51,089$203,300$200 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · younger residents
Akeley, MN 56433 85%603$58,889$228,500$185 pricier homes ($56K more) · younger residents
Lampe, MO 65681 85%753$57,548$214,800$228 pricier homes ($42K more) · more homeowners · newer homes
Addison, ME 04606 84%756$50,524$163,500$191 smaller · younger residents
Cape Vincent, NY 13618 84%332$61,494$228,700$143 pricier homes ($56K more) · younger residents
Normalville, PA 15469 84%331$56,301$140,100— cheaper homes ($32K less)
Meadows Of Dan, VA 24120 84%522$46,901$205,200$220 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Germanton, NC 27019 84%555$59,176$205,000$174 pricier homes ($33K more) · younger residents
State Road, NC 28676 84%542$60,833$242,600$191 pricier homes ($70K more) · younger residents
Siren, WI 54872 84%475$60,787$233,200$258 pricier homes ($61K more) · younger residents
Webster, WI 54893 84%473$56,129$234,200$220 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · younger residents
Cook, MN 55723 84%536$64,526$189,700$307 Very close on everything we compare
Mountain, WI 54149 83%281$50,250$207,500$245 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Butternut, WI 54514 83%390$70,769$165,000$216 younger residents
Phillips, WI 54555 83%381$59,025$186,900$153 larger · younger residents
Bigfork, MN 56628 83%574$61,250$244,700$189 pricier homes ($72K more)
Terry, MT 59349 83%1,098$63,000$158,100— smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Kosse, TX 76653 83%1,148$48,500$150,200$190 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.