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 Watkins, MN 55389

Watkins: median income $96,786, home value $273,700, $251/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Steep Falls, ME 04085 92%1,172$92,246$288,600$253 Very close on everything we compare
Meshoppen, PA 18630 92%955$89,464$232,700$250 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Black Creek, WI 54106 92%298$97,500$277,800$199 larger
Newburg, PA 17240 91%925$91,429$256,300$175 Very close on everything we compare
Iron Ridge, WI 53035 91%319$102,449$299,100$205 pricier homes ($25K more)
Mountain View, WY 82939 91%847$98,171$266,700$172 smaller
Greene, ME 04236 90%1,190$98,093$270,000$257 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Malaga, NJ 08328 90%1,061$101,583$236,900$247 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Georgetown, PA 15043 90%776$87,672$234,700$198 cheaper homes ($39K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Newmanstown, PA 17073 90%982$91,452$272,200$214 larger
Holtwood, PA 17532 90%993$84,562$348,600$312 pricier homes ($75K more)
Wolcottville, IN 46795 90%525$87,175$260,000$244 larger
Malone, WI 53049 90%318$93,424$286,000$261 Very close on everything we compare
Clear Lake, WI 54005 90%105$87,813$274,300$206 5 min shorter commute
Shiocton, WI 54170 90%293$78,889$232,100$259 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Chaplin, CT 06235 89%1,138$98,059$256,300$272 Very close on everything we compare
Millerstown, PA 17062 89%933$90,893$233,000$209 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Aspers, PA 17304 89%946$84,885$248,000$216 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Julian, NC 27283 89%1,007$90,402$290,700$251 Very close on everything we compare
Casco, MI 48064 89%609$87,538$303,200$222 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Lawtons, NY 14091 88%794$82,833$236,200— cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Prosperity, PA 15329 88%806$92,917$237,500— cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Fenelton, PA 16034 88%801$88,300$214,300$236 cheaper homes ($59K less) · older residents
Shelbyville, MI 49344 88%476$84,661$313,400$307 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · older residents
Silver Lake, WI 53170 88%365$79,931$284,400$237 Very close on everything we compare

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.