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.

Reset

Towns most like Florence, WI 54121

Florence: median income $58,750, home value $189,600, $194/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
State Road, NC 28676 94%763$60,833$242,600$191 pricier homes ($53K more)
Akeley, MN 56433 93%318$58,889$228,500$185 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Pennellville, NY 13132 90%617$72,473$197,200$208 Very close on everything we compare
Roscommon, MI 48653 90%199$65,913$170,700$172 larger
Tawas City, MI 48763 90%255$59,677$162,400$149 cheaper homes ($27K less)
North Webster, IN 46555 89%340$70,399$203,400$188 Very close on everything we compare
Caseville, MI 48725 89%278$60,298$178,200$188 smaller · older residents
Pigeon, MI 48755 89%282$61,964$168,800$155 Very close on everything we compare
Fall Branch, TN 37656 88%717$63,617$236,600$194 pricier homes ($47K more) · 6 min longer commute
Harrisville, MI 48740 88%253$54,393$155,800$133 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Bear Lake, MI 49614 88%144$72,250$223,100$201 pricier homes ($34K more) · 6 min longer commute
Crystal Falls, MI 49920 88%15$63,605$129,500$207 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Gilbert, MN 55741 88%226$69,545$164,500$155 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Kamiah, ID 83536 88%1,326$53,707$241,800$139 pricier homes ($52K more)
Bloomingdale, OH 43910 87%534$71,396$181,600$153 Very close on everything we compare
Waterford, OH 45786 87%553$70,917$218,500$140 pricier homes ($29K more)
Port Austin, MI 48467 87%287$53,750$172,500$189 older residents
Au Gres, MI 48703 87%256$64,792$172,100$160 older residents · 7 min longer commute
Lake Linden, MI 49945 87%88$59,453$159,100$162 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more renters · older homes
Fryeburg, ME 04037 86%852$54,414$278,200$260 pricier homes ($89K more)
Machiasport, ME 04655 86%1,013$60,000$177,100$265 smaller
Washington, WV 26181 86%570$73,977$197,700$147 larger · younger residents
Greenbush, MI 48738 86%256$63,462$193,900$231 smaller · older residents
Berrien Center, MI 49102 86%290$63,000$262,400$148 pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller
Keosauqua, IA 52565 86%403$62,992$149,000$202 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · 6 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.