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 Salem, WI 53168

Salem: median income $97,035, home value $300,200, $243/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Boonsboro, MD 21713 97%582$96,199$369,200$207 pricier homes ($69K more)
Monson, MA 01057 95%807$98,508$345,300$239 pricier homes ($45K more)
Elmer, NJ 08318 95%706$92,558$302,000$198 Very close on everything we compare
Glen Rock, PA 17327 95%622$101,106$315,700$184 Very close on everything we compare
Brooklyn, CT 06234 94%829$96,207$315,200$243 Very close on everything we compare
Thurmont, MD 21788 94%594$98,856$379,200$208 pricier homes ($79K more)
Hollis Center, ME 04042 93%885$95,950$338,900$270 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Atco, NJ 08004 93%716$111,738$267,600$207 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Smithsburg, MD 21783 93%585$100,750$339,800$174 pricier homes ($40K more)
West Point, VA 23181 93%690$95,699$290,600$191 smaller
Baltimore, OH 43105 93%342$98,583$340,900$219 pricier homes ($41K more)
Milan, MI 48160 93%230$103,453$265,300$209 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · younger residents
Peotone, IL 60468 93%87$104,625$294,000$194 smaller
Buxton, ME 04093 92%890$100,144$356,800$332 pricier homes ($57K more)
Canterbury, CT 06331 92%827$103,198$334,200$243 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Delanson, NY 12053 92%708$91,991$266,600$230 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Evans City, PA 16033 92%434$108,071$333,100$200 pricier homes ($33K more)
Conestoga, PA 17516 92%637$103,942$313,500$185 smaller
Hartville, OH 44632 92%368$91,061$267,500$199 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Annandale, MN 55302 92%350$83,235$347,000$230 pricier homes ($47K more)
Howard Lake, MN 55349 92%342$99,444$321,300$192 smaller
Maple Lake, MN 55358 92%343$92,039$329,500$228 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · younger residents
Kerhonkson, NY 12446 91%709$85,979$295,500$278 smaller
Seven Valleys, PA 17360 91%620$97,896$303,200$175 smaller
Spring Grove, PA 17362 91%614$98,702$292,100$179 larger · 5 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.