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 Ely, MN 55731

Ely: median income $62,008, home value $206,000, $274/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Del Norte, CO 81132 85%1,020$55,000$209,500$235 smaller · younger residents
Cedarville, MI 49719 82%377$75,156$226,500$294 smaller
Bayfield, WI 54814 82%88$63,682$250,000$268 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller · younger residents
Greenville, ME 04441 81%1,065$64,789$291,900$361 pricier homes ($86K more) · smaller
Saint Germain, WI 54558 81%177$59,718$261,000$345 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller
Washburn, WI 54891 81%95$70,536$208,800$194 smaller · younger residents
Hot Springs, SD 57747 80%640$68,443$221,000$174 more apartments and townhomes
Thomaston, ME 04861 79%1,115$56,435$271,700$237 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller · older homes
Bellaire, MI 49615 79%375$79,469$292,300$251 pricier homes ($86K more)
Spooner, WI 54801 79%142$62,625$216,500$210 younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Deer Isle, ME 04627 78%1,137$61,703$299,500$278 pricier homes ($94K more) · smaller · younger residents
Chincoteague Island, VA 23336 78%1,078$63,464$346,700$288 pricier homes ($141K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
State Road, NC 28676 78%975$60,833$242,600$191 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · younger residents
Frankfort, MI 49635 78%351$72,422$366,700$263 pricier homes ($161K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Minocqua, WI 54548 78%172$69,569$336,400$288 pricier homes ($130K more) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Wilmington, VT 05363 77%982$68,843$284,200$196 pricier homes ($78K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
East Tawas, MI 48730 77%472$49,823$157,200$172 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Eagle River, WI 54521 77%184$74,071$305,100$257 pricier homes ($99K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Center Conway, NH 03813 76%1,032$56,951$252,200$330 pricier homes ($46K more) · 7 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Elizabethtown, NY 12932 76%909$56,771$183,900$255 smaller · younger residents · older homes
Valdese, NC 28690 76%991$67,000$211,300$219 larger · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
South Haven, MI 49090 76%468$68,920$295,000$293 pricier homes ($89K more) · larger · younger residents
Weaverville, CA 96093 76%1,602$65,741$339,500$225 pricier homes ($134K more)
Belfast, ME 04915 75%1,115$66,362$308,700$271 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
West Middlesex, PA 16159 75%728$69,391$178,000— cheaper homes ($28K less) · younger residents

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.