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 Maple City, MI 49664

Maple City: median income $77,500, home value $475,900, $410/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hebron, NH 03241 92%699$91,375$470,700$371 smaller
Lincolnville, ME 04849 90%826$80,377$360,600$329 cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger
North Garden, VA 22959 89%608$95,461$548,800$414 pricier homes ($73K more) · younger residents
Baileys Harbor, WI 54202 89%64$73,784$432,200$406 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Nisswa, MN 56468 89%421$100,300$465,800$372 larger
Afton, VA 22920 87%600$88,028$410,000$311 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Arroyo Seco, NM 87514 87%1,175$71,556$545,200$432 pricier homes ($69K more)
Cushing, ME 04563 86%820$83,500$409,800$376 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · younger residents
South Thomaston, ME 04858 86%826$87,059$341,300$378 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Saluda, NC 28773 86%691$70,703$413,700$319 cheaper homes ($62K less) · 6 min longer commute
White Stone, VA 22578 85%699$80,783$441,600$252 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Glenville, NC 28736 85%684$70,855$428,400$373 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Lakemont, GA 30552 85%710$66,316$354,700$390 cheaper homes ($121K less)
Sheridan, MT 59749 85%1,276$80,238$382,400$332 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Huson, MT 59846 85%1,372$70,851$461,200$472 smaller
Freedom, NH 03836 84%735$66,136$389,000$344 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller
Oak Island, NC 28465 84%861$86,194$479,500$428 larger · older residents
Presque Isle, WI 54557 84%208$74,432$394,600$332 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller · older residents
Nevis, MN 56467 83%454$74,297$318,000$263 cheaper homes ($158K less)
Bend, OR 97707 83%1,751$85,272$647,600$432 pricier homes ($172K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Moultonborough, NH 03254 82%720$106,440$641,300$374 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($165K more) · larger
Mount Desert, ME 04660 82%864$78,646$480,600$430 smaller
Fort Defiance, VA 24437 82%583$87,200$310,100$278 cheaper homes ($166K less) · smaller
Nags Head, NC 27959 82%821$91,264$490,800$424 more walkable
Edisto Island, SC 29438 82%902$86,979$642,400$452 pricier homes ($167K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes

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.