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 East Tawas, MI 48730

East Tawas: median income $49,823, home value $157,200, $172/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Walton, NY 13856 88%444$48,958$156,500$194 younger residents
Phillips, WI 54555 88%352$59,025$186,900$153 pricier homes ($30K more)
Del Norte, CO 81132 88%1,276$55,000$209,500$235 pricier homes ($52K more)
Ladysmith, WI 54848 87%382$56,736$154,100$169 younger residents
Petersburg, WV 26847 86%430$52,139$180,400$162 younger residents
Caribou, ME 04736 85%767$54,368$139,000$139 larger · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Coudersport, PA 16915 85%329$61,781$181,800$130 younger residents
Morrill, NE 69358 85%1,040$52,159$152,800$137 smaller · younger residents
Warrensburg, NY 12885 84%485$59,429$169,800$169 younger residents
Hopwood, PA 15445 84%363$47,955$179,000$140 smaller · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Spooner, WI 54801 84%425$62,625$216,500$210 pricier homes ($59K more)
Crosby, MN 56441 84%532$50,298$208,700$209 pricier homes ($52K more) · 5 min longer commute
Walsenburg, CO 81089 84%1,198$52,280$191,800$154 pricier homes ($35K more) · younger residents
Bedford, PA 15522 83%391$57,029$197,200$152 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · younger residents
East Freedom, PA 16637 83%376$56,083$120,400$164 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Painter, VA 23420 83%612$52,831$158,400$214 smaller · younger residents
Florence, WI 54121 83%257$58,750$189,600$194 pricier homes ($32K more) · more homeowners
Hurley, WI 54534 83%358$53,468$123,600$121 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · older homes
Sharpsville, PA 16150 82%259$56,334$148,200$147 younger residents · older homes
Sparta, NC 28675 82%552$44,560$215,300$218 pricier homes ($58K more) · 7 min longer commute
Concordia, MO 64020 82%638$59,269$201,500$138 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · younger residents
Ainsworth, NE 69210 82%830$56,625$123,300— cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · younger residents
Kamiah, ID 83536 82%1,578$53,707$241,800$139 pricier homes ($85K more)
Lincoln, ME 04457 81%736$56,645$146,300$171 8 min longer commute
North Clarendon, VT 05759 81%526$58,150$209,100$199 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller · younger 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.