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 Wilson, WI 54027

Wilson: median income $100,750, home value $325,900, $316/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Buskirk, NY 12028 93%940$96,891$247,700— cheaper homes ($78K less)
Taylors Falls, MN 55084 93%44$94,297$318,500$276 larger
Humboldt, SD 57035 93%258$99,565$326,500— Very close on everything we compare
Saint Charles, IA 50240 92%265$107,563$305,800$288 larger
Wales, MA 01081 91%1,019$86,979$296,800$324 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Barnstead, NH 03218 91%1,040$112,500$346,900$335 Very close on everything we compare
Franklin, VT 05457 91%941$96,875$279,200$297 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Chaplin, CT 06235 91%1,028$98,059$256,300$272 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Garfield, MN 56332 91%176$87,917$281,400$273 cheaper homes ($45K less)
North Franklin, CT 06254 90%1,032$105,000$326,200$246 larger
Okeana, OH 45053 90%542$109,148$342,000$299 larger
Agency, MO 64401 90%387$99,398$271,900— cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Westphalia, MO 65085 90%451$103,563$290,600$244 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Palermo, ME 04354 89%1,116$89,095$259,700$253 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Estell Manor, NJ 08319 89%967$100,278$315,000$219 Very close on everything we compare
Randolph, MN 55065 89%50$119,667$407,100$238 pricier homes ($81K more)
Stanchfield, MN 55080 89%71$101,964$355,900$235 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Welch, MN 55089 89%35$108,750$384,800$238 pricier homes ($59K more) · older residents
Racine, MN 55967 89%82$109,583$317,700$210 Very close on everything we compare
Center Tuftonboro, NH 03816 88%1,036$88,971$426,700$300 pricier homes ($101K more)
Steep Falls, ME 04085 88%1,065$92,246$288,600$253 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · older residents
Hebron, ME 04238 88%1,072$92,550$242,300$309 cheaper homes ($84K less) · older residents
Hampton, CT 06247 88%1,032$108,854$293,000$263 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · older residents
Washington Boro, PA 17582 88%871$100,263$304,800$211 older residents
Cordova, MD 21625 88%930$83,250$372,200$374 pricier homes ($46K 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.