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 Saint Helen, MI 48656

Saint Helen: median income $47,750, home value $112,900, $160/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tionesta, PA 16353 87%323$56,034$121,000$104 smaller
Brookneal, VA 24528 87%580$58,343$140,000$204 pricier homes ($27K more) · younger residents
Pembine, WI 54156 87%193$49,625$129,300$172 smaller
Patten, ME 04765 86%784$50,286$121,400$179 smaller
Eagle Rock, VA 24085 86%521$53,633$133,700$175 smaller · younger residents
Goldston, NC 27252 86%665$50,435$171,600$189 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller
Hays, NC 28635 86%583$44,901$145,900$195 pricier homes ($33K more)
Gerald, MO 63037 86%547$50,203$177,500$151 pricier homes ($65K more) · younger residents
Avinger, TX 75630 86%965$49,677$156,300$166 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Kennerdell, PA 16374 85%319$57,829$128,800$171 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Meadow Bridge, WV 25976 85%485$41,169$126,100$148 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Friendship, WI 53934 85%268$48,782$166,100$176 pricier homes ($53K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Aurora, MN 55705 85%433$56,208$124,100$129 older homes
Millinocket, ME 04462 84%772$51,527$112,900$135 older homes
Shorter, AL 36075 84%832$53,505$115,700— smaller
Ashland, MS 38603 84%705$43,676$143,400$138 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · younger residents
Edwards, MO 65326 84%622$51,888$181,100$203 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller
North Anson, ME 04958 83%714$55,089$156,300$177 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · younger residents
Westover, MD 21871 83%625$50,524$185,900$189 pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller
Alford, FL 32420 83%950$48,446$119,600$145 smaller · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Sardis, OH 43946 83%372$62,832$127,700$209 smaller
Everton, AR 72633 83%722$45,385$154,000$138 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Kosse, TX 76653 83%1,118$48,500$150,200$190 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Dry Fork, VA 24549 82%587$55,186$146,000$144 pricier homes ($33K more) · younger residents
Volga, WV 26238 82%427$47,951$133,000$172 smaller · 6 min shorter commute

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.