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 Ridgeway, WI 53582

Ridgeway: median income $89,107, home value $266,400, $219/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Earlton, NY 12058 96%817$85,469$273,500— Very close on everything we compare
East Nassau, NY 12062 95%836$87,679$249,600$217 larger
Springville, PA 18844 95%724$92,750$246,300— Very close on everything we compare
Elysian, MN 56028 95%204$93,375$338,000$253 pricier homes ($72K more)
Wrenshall, MN 55797 94%274$87,039$257,400$229 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, MN 56017 94%212$88,056$330,900$211 pricier homes ($65K more) · larger
Lecompton, KS 66050 94%396$91,979$263,200$227 larger
Westmoreland, KS 66549 94%417$79,318$202,300$237 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Freehold, NY 12431 93%809$80,694$262,500$265 larger
Falls, PA 18615 93%730$76,184$229,100$253 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Darwin, MN 55324 93%264$83,269$355,100$196 pricier homes ($89K more)
Brownsville, MN 55919 93%80$77,917$223,300$260 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Kellogg, MN 55945 93%137$80,284$235,200$176 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Arlington, SD 57212 93%366$93,750$238,100— cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Bonnots Mill, MO 65016 93%324$78,750$269,400— Very close on everything we compare
Waterboro, ME 04087 92%967$98,105$247,300$299 larger
Andes, NY 13731 92%774$73,750$291,300$214 Very close on everything we compare
Dalmatia, PA 17017 92%694$82,396$216,600$212 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Pleasant Mount, PA 18453 92%749$85,110$325,000$260 pricier homes ($59K more)
Big Island, VA 24526 92%674$85,729$241,200$232 cheaper homes ($25K less) · more renters
Austinburg, OH 44010 92%474$80,455$223,300$173 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Underwood, MN 56586 92%368$79,583$309,800$268 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Monroe Center, IL 61052 92%80$91,797$225,700$174 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Catawissa, MO 63015 92%321$88,750$237,000$216 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Potlatch, ID 83855 92%1,337$84,423$298,300$223 pricier homes ($32K more) · 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.