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 Lake Tomahawk, WI 54539

Lake Tomahawk: median income $62,841, home value $282,200, $246/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Roach, MO 65787 96%559$62,917$314,500$254 pricier homes ($32K more)
Penobscot, ME 04476 95%1,019$63,194$296,400$280 Very close on everything we compare
Akeley, MN 56433 94%258$58,889$228,500$185 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Deer Isle, ME 04627 93%1,026$61,703$299,500$278 larger
Nevis, MN 56467 91%263$74,297$318,000$263 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Friendship, ME 04547 90%996$75,625$275,000$242 Very close on everything we compare
Andes, NY 13731 90%776$73,750$291,300$214 Very close on everything we compare
Drummond Island, MI 49726 90%281$67,232$273,200— older residents
Austin, CO 81410 90%1,054$67,826$366,700$213 pricier homes ($85K more)
Mears, MI 49436 89%212$67,279$255,000$285 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 6 min longer commute
Bear Lake, MI 49614 89%193$72,250$223,100$201 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Goshen, NH 03752 88%875$70,417$255,600$332 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Fryeburg, ME 04037 88%917$54,414$278,200$260 larger
Craryville, NY 12521 88%829$75,652$338,700$290 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger
State Road, NC 28676 88%795$60,833$242,600$191 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Backus, MN 56435 88%241$62,381$256,800$273 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Centertown, MO 65023 88%516$72,663$221,200$193 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Lampe, MO 65681 88%668$57,548$214,800$228 cheaper homes ($67K less) · older residents
Fort Davis, TX 79734 88%1,303$65,227$241,300— cheaper homes ($41K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Mackay, ID 83251 88%1,180$73,482$366,900$286 pricier homes ($85K more)
Tamworth, NH 03886 87%906$74,450$368,200$274 pricier homes ($86K more) · older residents
Milbridge, ME 04658 87%1,057$60,536$240,400$262 cheaper homes ($42K less) · younger residents
Sedgwick, ME 04676 87%1,024$73,333$336,500$235 pricier homes ($54K more)
Lakemont, GA 30552 87%829$66,316$354,700$390 pricier homes ($73K more)
Berrien Center, MI 49102 87%313$63,000$262,400$148 Very close on everything we compare

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.