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 Conover, WI 54519

Conover: median income $59,628, home value $271,600, $271/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Penobscot, ME 04476 97%1,002$63,194$296,400$280 Very close on everything we compare
Deer Isle, ME 04627 95%1,009$61,703$299,500$278 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Roach, MO 65787 95%580$62,917$314,500$254 pricier homes ($43K more)
Goshen, NH 03752 91%860$70,417$255,600$332 Very close on everything we compare
Fryeburg, ME 04037 91%901$54,414$278,200$260 larger
Akeley, MN 56433 91%269$58,889$228,500$185 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Monterey, VA 24465 90%721$61,379$202,500$357 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Mears, MI 49436 90%213$67,279$255,000$285 Very close on everything we compare
Friendship, ME 04547 89%980$75,625$275,000$242 Very close on everything we compare
Machiasport, ME 04655 89%1,061$60,000$177,100$265 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Milbridge, ME 04658 89%1,040$60,536$240,400$262 cheaper homes ($31K less) · younger residents
Central Lake, MI 49622 89%203$70,098$234,400$278 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Cook, MN 55723 89%206$64,526$189,700$307 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Craryville, NY 12521 88%816$75,652$338,700$290 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger
Andes, NY 13731 88%764$73,750$291,300$214 Very close on everything we compare
Crawford, CO 81415 88%1,063$59,141$330,900$333 pricier homes ($59K more)
Harrison, ME 04040 87%914$57,218$256,300$283 larger · 8 min longer commute
East Meredith, NY 13757 87%752$73,523$225,000$346 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Raphine, VA 24472 87%759$51,429$251,000$268 larger
State Road, NC 28676 87%798$60,833$242,600$191 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Bear Lake, MI 49614 87%187$72,250$223,100$201 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Backus, MN 56435 87%252$62,381$256,800$273 larger
Centertown, MO 65023 87%537$72,663$221,200$193 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Austin, CO 81410 87%1,075$67,826$366,700$213 pricier homes ($95K more)
Hagerman, ID 83332 87%1,279$64,792$226,200$250 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes

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.