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 Brussels, WI 54204

Brussels: median income $79,803, home value $379,800, $299/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hanover, VA 23069 94%719$83,453$356,400$274 larger
Audubon, MN 56511 94%429$89,875$401,900$261 Very close on everything we compare
Cordova, MD 21625 93%722$83,250$372,200$374 Very close on everything we compare
Etowah, NC 28729 93%703$84,413$321,000$244 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Bonner, MT 59823 93%1,266$82,813$474,100$349 pricier homes ($94K more)
Cascade, ID 83611 93%1,369$77,411$429,400$335 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Searsmont, ME 04973 92%904$87,000$284,000$292 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Dayton, WY 82836 92%962$79,375$329,100$264 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Center Tuftonboro, NH 03816 91%812$88,971$426,700$300 pricier homes ($47K more)
Hollis Center, ME 04042 91%846$95,950$338,900$270 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Galway, NY 12074 91%687$94,583$304,800$234 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Freehold, NY 12431 91%697$80,694$262,500$265 cheaper homes ($117K less)
Swoope, VA 24479 91%630$80,583$390,400$191 Very close on everything we compare
Zumbro Falls, MN 55991 91%239$82,292$350,000$270 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Garfield, MN 56332 91%392$87,917$281,400$273 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Absarokee, MT 59001 91%1,063$82,692$359,000$271 smaller
New Plymouth, ID 83655 91%1,435$84,542$371,300$261 larger
Cove, OR 97824 91%1,466$80,263$413,700$267 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents · newer homes
Bridport, VT 05734 90%707$81,250$358,600$329 smaller · older residents
Smithfield, KY 40068 90%456$80,750$325,300$232 cheaper homes ($55K less) · newer homes
North Salem, IN 46165 90%341$86,488$346,500$226 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Rapid City, MI 49676 90%114$75,781$269,300$290 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger
Cohasset, MN 55721 90%337$86,429$302,300$221 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger
Lake Park, MN 56554 90%431$94,792$376,400$307 Very close on everything we compare
Linwood, KS 66052 90%550$82,411$340,200$212 cheaper homes ($40K less)

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.