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 Petoskey, MI 49770

Petoskey: median income $79,590, home value $355,200, $275/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Queensbury, NY 12804 94%572$89,127$311,400$248 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Easton, MD 21601 92%641$83,680$376,400$232 Very close on everything we compare
Lake Geneva, WI 53147 92%260$83,566$369,100$287 6 min longer commute
Rapid City, SD 57702 92%909$91,457$389,700$218 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Morehead City, NC 28557 91%851$68,528$362,800$249 Very close on everything we compare
Canton, OH 44718 91%357$88,113$297,900$191 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Stoughton, WI 53589 90%272$96,226$341,000$241 Very close on everything we compare
Bishop, CA 93514 90%1,803$81,278$422,600$349 pricier homes ($67K more)
Topsham, ME 04086 89%741$91,028$360,800$296 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Lexington, VA 24450 89%594$76,587$305,100$225 cheaper homes ($50K less) · younger residents
Weaverville, NC 28787 89%678$78,604$401,700$266 pricier homes ($47K more)
Hendersonville, NC 28791 89%703$78,827$370,700$236 older residents
New Berlin, WI 53151 89%227$101,176$371,200$231 larger
Alexandria, MN 56308 89%507$78,177$341,900$194 Very close on everything we compare
Cody, WY 82414 89%1,179$77,958$435,300$252 pricier homes ($80K more)
Saco, ME 04072 88%723$92,241$413,100$329 pricier homes ($58K more) · 6 min longer commute
Canandaigua, NY 14424 88%415$79,778$269,500$233 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger
Asheville, NC 28805 88%686$75,151$412,500$281 pricier homes ($57K more) · more walkable
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051 88%219$100,031$367,900$240 larger
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 88%533$70,037$314,700$217 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Fredericksburg, TX 78624 88%1,287$75,237$463,300$284 pricier homes ($108K more) · older residents
Philomath, OR 97370 88%1,864$88,091$463,200$279 pricier homes ($108K more) · smaller
Colchester, VT 05446 87%575$97,475$393,200$282 pricier homes ($38K more)
Shalimar, FL 32579 87%1,034$104,510$444,300$232 pricier homes ($89K more) · smaller
Johnson City, TN 37615 87%632$77,525$294,900$200 cheaper homes ($60K less)

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.