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 Mc Farland, WI 53558

Mc Farland: median income $107,609, home value $405,300, $253/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
East Greenbush, NY 12061 96%791$110,962$343,800$264 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Missoula, MT 59803 93%1,233$111,925$556,000$283 pricier homes ($151K more)
Yorktown, VA 23692 92%788$109,066$417,200$222 Very close on everything we compare
Glen Allen, VA 23060 91%720$104,468$409,900$224 larger
Savannah, GA 31410 91%884$97,807$407,700$259 larger · 6 min longer commute
Shalimar, FL 32579 91%881$104,510$444,300$232 pricier homes ($39K more) · older residents
Philomath, OR 97370 91%1,692$88,091$463,200$279 pricier homes ($58K more)
Anchorage, AK 99515 91%2,735$113,995$427,500$269 larger
Grand Rapids, MI 49525 90%187$94,037$321,100$228 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Stillwater, MN 55082 90%226$115,040$474,400$232 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger
Saint Paul, MN 55127 90%236$117,917$433,200$223 pricier homes ($28K more)
Colchester, VT 05446 89%808$97,475$393,200$282 Very close on everything we compare
Gansevoort, NY 12831 89%785$100,024$343,100$264 cheaper homes ($62K less) · less walkable
Adel, IA 50003 89%261$103,114$395,400$256 Very close on everything we compare
Cromwell, CT 06416 88%854$110,596$325,200$252 cheaper homes ($80K less) · older homes
Latham, NY 12110 88%785$105,024$340,100$264 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · older homes
Orchard Park, NY 14127 88%534$109,386$364,900$237 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · older homes
Lake Orion, MI 48359 88%305$93,125$350,100$186 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Waconia, MN 55387 88%257$114,511$440,300$215 pricier homes ($35K more) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Rochester, MN 55906 88%173$93,685$377,800$173 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Lees Summit, MO 64064 88%383$117,674$389,000$184 larger
Shawnee, KS 66216 88%394$111,744$353,300$182 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Tucson, AZ 85748 88%1,386$95,750$368,700$221 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Albany, OR 97321 88%1,678$99,416$473,100$267 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger
Exeter, RI 02822 87%908$112,813$520,100$345 pricier homes ($115K more) · smaller

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.