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 Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235

Sturgeon Bay: median income $70,212, home value $297,300, $257/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ludington, MI 49431 94%76$66,336$237,700$203 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Spirit Lake, IA 51360 93%396$75,882$271,700$253 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · younger residents
Beaufort, NC 28516 91%899$66,057$315,400$270 smaller · 6 min longer commute
South Haven, MI 49090 91%178$68,920$295,000$293 7 min longer commute
Boyne City, MI 49712 91%118$74,033$294,800$318 smaller
Clear Lake, IA 50428 91%321$81,037$283,400$232 smaller
Clarkston, WA 99403 91%1,430$71,482$325,300$216 pricier homes ($28K more) · younger residents
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 90%430$70,037$314,700$217 younger residents
Oakland, MD 21550 89%556$64,921$233,300$196 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Hamilton, MT 59840 88%1,294$61,752$428,100$343 pricier homes ($131K more)
Kerrville, TX 78028 88%1,206$66,991$323,200$210 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
La Grange, TX 78945 88%1,155$75,446$340,300$168 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Cody, WY 82414 88%1,063$77,958$435,300$252 pricier homes ($138K more)
Buffalo, WY 82834 88%950$63,395$328,700$222 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · younger residents
Roseburg, OR 97471 88%1,784$71,670$359,200$259 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · younger residents
Waynesville, NC 28786 87%685$59,371$297,800$245 8 min longer commute
Clayton, GA 30525 87%719$65,150$274,200$258 smaller
Grand Rapids, MN 55744 87%337$70,644$241,200$176 cheaper homes ($56K less) · younger residents
Lakeside, AZ 85929 86%1,406$62,752$306,900$290 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Colville, WA 99114 86%1,457$62,711$301,600$225 younger residents
West Jefferson, NC 28694 85%661$58,486$273,200$266 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Brevard, NC 28712 85%708$63,045$414,300$299 pricier homes ($117K more) · 5 min longer commute
Polson, MT 59860 85%1,287$62,047$441,500$309 pricier homes ($144K more) · younger residents
Montrose, CO 81401 85%1,142$71,286$374,300$280 pricier homes ($77K more) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Salmon, ID 83467 85%1,289$53,917$316,700$265 smaller

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.