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 Lake Geneva, WI 53147

Lake Geneva: median income $83,566, home value $369,100, $287/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Easton, MD 21601 96%699$83,680$376,400$232 Very close on everything we compare
Saco, ME 04072 94%909$92,241$413,100$329 pricier homes ($44K more)
Mechanicville, NY 12118 93%747$92,710$345,800$267 Very close on everything we compare
Queensbury, NY 12804 93%748$89,127$311,400$248 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 93%47$93,494$347,000$258 larger
Petoskey, MI 49770 92%260$79,590$355,200$275 6 min shorter commute
Pawcatuck, CT 06379 91%856$95,066$406,100$286 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Saugerties, NY 12477 91%739$80,861$331,500$300 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older homes
Canandaigua, NY 14424 91%567$79,778$269,500$233 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger
Chestertown, MD 21620 91%686$80,530$347,500$228 Very close on everything we compare
Merritt Island, FL 32953 91%1,072$87,262$419,200$225 pricier homes ($50K more)
Louisville, TN 37777 91%523$75,648$345,600$244 Very close on everything we compare
Livingston, MT 59047 91%1,113$71,620$456,800$325 pricier homes ($88K more)
Agawam, MA 01001 90%808$75,342$295,700$249 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Old Hickory, TN 37138 90%449$85,149$363,000$233 Very close on everything we compare
Olympia, WA 98506 90%1,700$91,596$490,900$298 pricier homes ($122K more)
Topsham, ME 04086 89%934$91,028$360,800$296 smaller
Ellsworth, ME 04605 89%1,010$77,377$256,900$244 cheaper homes ($112K less)
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 89%752$90,013$370,500$283 more homeowners
Morehead City, NC 28557 89%832$68,528$362,800$249 Very close on everything we compare
North Royalton, OH 44133 89%356$83,717$292,500$184 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Canton, OH 44718 89%381$88,113$297,900$191 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Grand Haven, MI 49417 89%119$83,405$316,300$248 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Traverse City, MI 49684 89%201$80,788$420,200$332 pricier homes ($51K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Traverse City, MI 49686 89%206$71,609$344,700$289 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.