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 North Branch, MN 55056

North Branch: median income $95,679, home value $331,300, $208/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Greenbrier, TN 37073 96%706$89,065$367,200$232 pricier homes ($36K more)
Hillsboro, MO 63050 96%516$87,371$288,200$206 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Santa Fe, TX 77510 96%1,119$102,651$333,100$179 Very close on everything we compare
Rising Sun, MD 21911 95%948$104,673$359,000$220 pricier homes ($28K more)
Sorrento, FL 32776 95%1,312$100,573$410,100$224 pricier homes ($79K more)
Seymour, TN 37865 95%822$88,231$312,600$216 larger
Mount Washington, KY 40047 95%642$99,124$279,400$197 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Taylorsville, KY 40071 95%647$98,528$329,000$184 Very close on everything we compare
Cedar Lake, IN 46303 95%397$84,211$293,500$197 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Lowell, IN 46356 95%404$89,217$281,500$184 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Fowlerville, MI 48836 95%484$90,592$276,800$187 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Kewaskum, WI 53040 95%273$96,096$326,100$210 smaller
Tuttle, OK 73089 95%751$103,048$291,300$173 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Decatur, TX 76234 95%883$93,727$344,700$199 Very close on everything we compare
Clayton, DE 19938 94%980$99,596$381,000$196 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller
Martinsburg, WV 25405 94%872$92,536$259,600$173 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Stanley, NC 28164 94%938$79,728$310,300$189 Very close on everything we compare
Trevor, WI 53179 94%317$94,460$305,800$221 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Santa Fe, TX 77517 94%1,122$88,567$314,100$194 smaller
Nottingham, PA 19362 93%947$89,302$359,700$196 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Taneytown, MD 21787 93%898$91,682$355,000$208 Very close on everything we compare
Hedgesville, WV 25427 93%862$87,184$291,100$210 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 5 min longer commute
Social Circle, GA 30025 93%954$95,757$322,100$170 Very close on everything we compare
Williamson, GA 30292 93%968$87,394$327,100$179 smaller
Lula, GA 30554 93%912$91,619$305,300$198 cheaper homes ($26K 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.