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 Merrimac, WI 53561

Merrimac: median income $91,103, home value $427,600, $251/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Middle Grove, NY 12850 95%785$92,083$317,300$246 cheaper homes ($110K less)
Lake Park, MN 56554 95%393$94,792$376,400$307 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Springville, CA 93265 95%1,618$99,350$467,700$223 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Galena, MD 21635 94%765$101,618$402,000$258 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Cove, OR 97824 93%1,392$80,263$413,700$267 Very close on everything we compare
Galway, NY 12074 92%785$94,583$304,800$234 cheaper homes ($123K less) · larger
Cedar, MI 49621 92%215$95,446$396,600$278 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Welch, MN 55089 92%175$108,750$384,800$238 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Bonner, MT 59823 92%1,200$82,813$474,100$349 pricier homes ($47K more)
Troy, ID 83871 92%1,338$89,750$361,800$179 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Goode, VA 24556 91%679$87,250$399,000$204 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Alexandria, OH 43001 91%427$93,804$387,400$216 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Center City, MN 55012 91%211$101,607$386,600$226 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Silverlake, WA 98645 91%1,624$101,429$509,500$220 pricier homes ($82K more)
Readfield, ME 04355 90%980$86,504$326,400$223 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Ghent, NY 12075 90%812$98,047$422,900$253 larger
Freeland, MD 21053 90%714$89,497$408,300$238 larger · 5 min longer commute
Salisbury, NH 03268 89%898$111,818$363,200$268 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Grand Isle, VT 05458 89%815$101,728$403,200$297 Very close on everything we compare
Bridport, VT 05734 89%814$81,250$358,600$329 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Athens, NY 12015 89%804$91,845$306,300$226 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger
Olivebridge, NY 12461 89%787$112,273$431,400$319 Very close on everything we compare
Etowah, NC 28729 89%672$84,413$321,000$244 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger
Madison Lake, MN 56063 89%217$102,391$416,300$297 larger
Deerwood, MN 56444 89%297$77,500$365,200$238 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger

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.