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 Askov, MN 55704

Askov: median income $62,500, home value $234,300, $208/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Equinunk, PA 18417 96%922$63,333$257,700$179 Very close on everything we compare
Freedom, ME 04941 95%1,140$65,662$214,000$216 larger
Sullivan, ME 04664 93%1,196$59,643$222,000$180 Very close on everything we compare
Liberty, PA 16930 93%840$71,111$197,800— cheaper homes ($37K less)
Middlebury Center, PA 16935 93%822$63,125$200,000$182 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Cornish, ME 04020 92%1,083$69,038$274,200$201 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · younger residents
West Paris, ME 04289 92%1,083$56,324$193,000$189 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Brooks, ME 04921 92%1,147$63,646$210,300$200 larger
Newfoundland, PA 18445 92%930$53,429$247,700$209 larger
Thompson, PA 18465 92%905$67,578$250,900$182 Very close on everything we compare
Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450 92%1,108$69,554$264,200$213 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Tabor, IA 51653 92%394$71,319$230,200$176 Very close on everything we compare
Trimble, MO 64492 92%472$66,211$225,900$186 larger
Jackson Center, PA 16133 91%716$76,713$201,200$192 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Beech Creek, PA 16822 91%835$71,635$200,000$217 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Friendsville, PA 18818 91%880$62,917$240,400$212 Very close on everything we compare
Melbourne, KY 41059 91%654$58,553$217,400$209 larger
Cecil, WI 54111 91%231$67,396$248,200$196 larger
Charlo, MT 59824 91%1,013$53,382$317,800$247 pricier homes ($84K more)
Franklin, ME 04634 90%1,189$67,589$264,600$166 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · older residents
Noxen, PA 18636 90%894$57,132$180,200$177 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Topping, VA 23169 90%1,024$71,964$247,900$264 Very close on everything we compare
Tyner, NC 27980 90%1,080$66,111$259,300$202 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · older residents
Heltonville, IN 47436 90%596$75,278$210,800$166 larger
Addison, MI 49220 90%509$72,500$225,200$190 larger

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.