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 Athelstane, WI 54104

Athelstane: median income $56,286, home value $171,300, $245/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Edwards, MO 65326 92%561$51,888$181,100$203 larger
Chester, AR 72934 90%743$59,282$177,100$266 Very close on everything we compare
Millersburg, MI 49759 88%198$56,944$181,300$206 Very close on everything we compare
Morris Chapel, TN 38361 86%699$60,097$162,800$202 6 min shorter commute
Mc Millan, MI 49853 86%132$54,563$166,400$214 younger residents
Pittsburg, NH 03592 85%817$61,094$279,500$293 pricier homes ($108K more)
Westover, MD 21871 85%815$50,524$185,900$189 larger · younger residents
Brownville, ME 04414 84%926$69,500$148,100$243 larger · younger residents
Goldston, NC 27252 83%823$50,435$171,600$189 younger residents
Stapleton, AL 36578 83%1,014$53,490$213,900$228 pricier homes ($43K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Irons, MI 49644 83%143$54,013$175,400$175 larger · 6 min longer commute
Lampe, MO 65681 83%670$57,548$214,800$228 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Fulton, AR 71838 83%868$48,125$112,300— cheaper homes ($59K less)
Fancy Gap, VA 24328 82%719$56,659$165,100$165 larger · more renters
National City, MI 48748 82%233$58,750$161,800$201 7 min longer commute · older homes
Kosse, TX 76653 82%1,075$48,500$150,200$190 younger residents
Shorter, AL 36075 81%909$53,505$115,700— cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · younger residents
Bigfork, MN 56628 81%306$61,250$244,700$189 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · younger residents
Mikado, MI 48745 80%239$49,844$157,800$187 younger residents
Keosauqua, IA 52565 80%376$62,992$149,000$202 younger residents
Valley, WA 99181 80%1,404$63,661$267,600$218 pricier homes ($96K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
North Haverhill, NH 03774 79%797$58,452$227,900$192 pricier homes ($57K more) · younger residents
Frenchville, PA 16836 79%582$62,841$131,700$210 cheaper homes ($40K less) · younger residents
Lupton, MI 48635 79%217$57,500$150,300$128 larger · younger residents
Rock Cave, WV 26234 78%610$61,250$206,500— pricier homes ($35K more) · younger residents · 7 min longer 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.