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.

Reset

Towns most like Howard Lake, MN 55349

Howard Lake: median income $99,444, home value $321,300, $192/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Conestoga, PA 17516 96%967$103,942$313,500$185 Very close on everything we compare
Glenwood City, WI 54013 96%92$87,500$307,600$179 Very close on everything we compare
Poynette, WI 53955 95%257$101,134$332,000$201 larger
Seven Valleys, PA 17360 94%951$97,896$303,200$175 larger · younger residents
Diamond, OH 44412 94%711$102,726$282,300$168 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Iron Ridge, WI 53035 94%297$102,449$299,100$205 Very close on everything we compare
Neosho, WI 53059 94%301$91,114$342,800$232 smaller
Elwood, IL 60421 94%392$103,083$272,100$211 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Steep Falls, ME 04085 93%1,156$92,246$288,600$253 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Canterbury, CT 06331 93%1,129$103,198$334,200$243 Very close on everything we compare
East Berlin, PA 17316 93%935$90,664$293,200$184 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Bernville, PA 19506 93%962$106,422$341,900$192 larger
Sharpsburg, MD 21782 93%918$94,130$311,600$207 6 min longer commute
Chesapeake City, MD 21915 93%1,005$95,875$376,500$252 pricier homes ($55K more)
Fincastle, VA 24090 93%903$90,521$286,900$136 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Campbellsport, WI 53010 93%304$95,391$307,000$235 larger
Fremont, WI 54940 93%263$90,813$307,100$208 Very close on everything we compare
Dexter, NY 13634 92%888$92,109$225,500$181 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Glen Rock, PA 17327 92%953$101,106$315,700$184 larger
Cresco, PA 18326 92%983$85,352$285,300$215 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Boonsboro, MD 21713 92%917$96,199$369,200$207 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Churchville, VA 24421 92%900$98,125$372,700$201 pricier homes ($51K more)
Salem, WI 53168 92%342$97,035$300,200$243 larger
Twin Lakes, WI 53181 92%339$97,804$293,500$248 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Rio, WI 53960 92%265$84,911$282,100$160 cheaper homes ($39K less)

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.