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 Iron River, WI 54847

Iron River: median income $68,795, home value $266,600, $236/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hancock, ME 04640 95%1,127$71,699$269,100$292 Very close on everything we compare
Clarksville, VA 23927 95%954$70,938$295,500$198 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Alstead, NH 03602 94%963$70,455$279,400$216 Very close on everything we compare
Warriors Mark, PA 16877 94%778$68,500$307,700— pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Rising Fawn, GA 30738 94%869$66,080$284,700$224 Very close on everything we compare
Buckingham, VA 23921 93%903$67,955$226,000$243 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Sautee Nacoochee, GA 30571 93%913$62,917$312,400$204 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Danville, VT 05828 92%944$72,121$279,100$208 older homes
Swan Lake, NY 12783 92%886$67,778$248,200$251 smaller · older residents
Union Dale, PA 18470 92%854$73,654$227,600$164 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Swanton, MD 21561 92%785$73,858$328,700$295 pricier homes ($62K more)
Harrison, ME 04040 91%1,020$57,218$256,300$283 Very close on everything we compare
Whitefield, ME 04353 91%1,069$73,875$242,300$247 more homeowners
Eddington, ME 04428 91%1,106$72,857$244,500$159 Very close on everything we compare
Surry, ME 04684 91%1,114$74,508$296,300$251 pricier homes ($30K more)
Saint Albans, ME 04971 91%1,064$65,600$194,000$244 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Spring Mills, PA 16875 91%795$71,250$307,700$211 pricier homes ($41K more) · younger residents
Maggie Valley, NC 28751 91%878$69,057$313,500$292 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Panora, IA 50216 91%367$79,635$228,600$261 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Mcgregor, MN 55760 91%90$59,474$274,600$276 Very close on everything we compare
Waterford, ME 04088 90%1,015$63,750$276,800$329 smaller
Dresden, ME 04342 90%1,063$74,844$240,100$259 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Gouldsboro, ME 04607 90%1,134$60,152$253,400$270 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Shaftsbury, VT 05262 90%925$71,417$253,600$208 younger residents
Liberty, TN 37095 90%783$64,792$189,200$212 cheaper homes ($77K less) · 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.