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 Larsen, WI 54947

Larsen: median income $91,167, home value $280,400, $193/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lee Center, NY 13363 95%660$94,432$219,600$208 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Ceresco, MI 49033 94%227$94,750$326,600$204 pricier homes ($46K more)
Mertztown, PA 19539 93%711$107,656$266,700$228 larger
Britt, MN 55710 93%305$86,477$280,400$170 smaller
Doniphan, NE 68832 93%547$96,641$250,000$154 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Northfield, CT 06778 92%806$81,375$321,600$230 pricier homes ($41K more)
Newbury, OH 44065 92%422$95,442$285,800$183 larger · 5 min longer commute
Casstown, OH 45312 92%369$91,842$279,400$201 smaller
Janesville, IA 50647 92%218$104,063$314,200$144 pricier homes ($34K more)
Dalton, MN 56324 92%377$82,917$252,600$160 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Salisbury, VT 05769 91%774$99,792$316,000$230 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Fabius, NY 13063 91%643$84,063$230,200$161 cheaper homes ($50K less) · 5 min longer commute
Milan, OH 44846 91%367$93,333$243,500$180 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Carlos, MN 56319 91%345$89,712$273,100$228 smaller
Valley Springs, SD 57068 91%391$112,847$260,400$172 Very close on everything we compare
Bernardston, MA 01337 90%814$85,045$338,800$233 pricier homes ($58K more) · more renters
Hartland, VT 05048 90%811$99,583$338,800$234 pricier homes ($58K more) · older residents
Melrose, NY 12121 90%761$100,461$297,400$232 Very close on everything we compare
Cogan Station, PA 17728 90%622$77,165$235,500$172 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Winfield, PA 17889 90%643$89,063$288,900$188 younger residents
Brackney, PA 18812 90%661$89,688$271,100$209 smaller · older residents
Hoagland, IN 46745 90%292$89,643$242,400$143 cheaper homes ($38K less) · younger residents
Ottawa Lake, MI 49267 90%304$97,961$267,900$176 larger
Darwin, MN 55324 90%288$83,269$355,100$196 pricier homes ($75K more) · smaller
Goode, VA 24556 89%676$87,250$399,000$204 pricier homes ($119K more)

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.