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 Stanchfield, MN 55080

Stanchfield: median income $101,964, home value $355,900, $235/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Okeana, OH 45053 95%613$109,148$342,000$299 Very close on everything we compare
Sutherland, VA 23885 94%998$103,849$283,900$208 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Saint Charles, IA 50240 94%304$107,563$305,800$288 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Cleveland, MO 64734 94%487$88,274$393,900$233 pricier homes ($38K more)
Steep Falls, ME 04085 93%1,114$92,246$288,600$253 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Centerburg, OH 43011 93%650$90,121$315,600$205 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Dryden, MI 48428 93%533$100,033$311,600$204 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Andover, NH 03216 92%1,065$88,311$358,800$194 smaller · older residents
Preston, MD 21655 92%1,005$90,385$289,200$221 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Litchfield, OH 44253 92%643$91,500$283,300$232 cheaper homes ($73K less) · newer homes
Guilford, IN 47022 92%614$93,633$282,900$226 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Star Prairie, WI 54026 92%47$95,833$342,200$277 older residents
Kingston, IL 60145 92%332$108,477$268,300$191 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Holt, MO 64048 92%435$103,131$337,900$255 older residents
Earleville, MD 21919 91%978$106,500$373,200$224 older residents
Pegram, TN 37143 91%735$96,929$392,400$234 pricier homes ($37K more)
Newark, IL 60541 91%371$118,100$314,300$242 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 5 min shorter commute
New Ipswich, NH 03071 90%1,074$110,507$392,400$278 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Center Barnstead, NH 03225 90%1,092$111,660$368,400$327 Very close on everything we compare
Gilmanton, NH 03237 90%1,083$111,359$345,400$275 Very close on everything we compare
Chaplin, CT 06235 90%1,083$98,059$256,300$272 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller
Canterbury, CT 06331 90%1,093$103,198$334,200$243 larger · older residents
Delta, PA 17314 90%948$96,047$269,300$187 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger
Clear Spring, MD 21722 90%881$88,232$312,500$195 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Woodford, VA 22580 90%965$93,603$353,800$248 larger · newer homes

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.