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 Esko, MN 55733

Esko: median income $118,260, home value $353,400, $229/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Marne, MI 49435 92%407$103,432$383,800$208 pricier homes ($30K more)
Elma, NY 14059 91%723$113,555$346,500$252 larger
Fairview, PA 16415 89%679$108,214$310,600$200 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Seaford, VA 23696 89%1,047$142,788$427,100$227 pricier homes ($74K more) · 6 min longer commute
Thompson, ND 58278 89%234$111,250$313,400$209 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · older residents
East Granby, CT 06026 88%1,021$119,375$388,000$233 pricier homes ($35K more) · 7 min longer commute
Bolton, CT 06043 88%1,040$126,364$367,600$257 7 min longer commute
Schoolcraft, MI 49087 88%457$106,250$305,900$181 cheaper homes ($48K less) · 6 min longer commute
Hudson, IA 50643 88%299$125,804$244,400$166 cheaper homes ($109K less) · smaller
Wales, WI 53183 88%322$108,827$398,700$207 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller
Pewee Valley, KY 40056 87%678$134,115$339,900$207 8 min longer commute
Southampton, MA 01073 86%1,014$123,125$452,300$303 pricier homes ($99K more)
Springfield, MA 01128 86%1,028$100,313$272,100$236 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Plainfield, NH 03781 86%1,000$109,659$426,400$270 pricier homes ($73K more) · smaller
West Suffield, CT 06093 86%1,019$122,041$393,800$254 pricier homes ($40K more) · 8 min longer commute
Richfield, WI 53076 86%312$107,414$447,800$241 pricier homes ($94K more) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Jefferson, SD 57038 86%352$106,250$332,300$185 smaller
Gales Ferry, CT 06335 85%1,068$118,116$322,400$265 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Ledyard, CT 06339 85%1,071$106,403$330,500$243 larger
Boiling Springs, PA 17007 85%887$117,130$385,600$185 pricier homes ($32K more) · more renters
Alto, MI 49302 85%433$134,722$400,700$216 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · newer homes
Deerfield, WI 53531 85%299$105,000$353,300$219 5 min longer commute
Kindred, ND 58051 85%220$107,396$331,100$241 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Groveland, IL 61535 85%446$128,125$242,900$163 cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller
Arlington, VT 05250 84%970$96,250$300,700$267 cheaper homes ($53K 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.