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 Sturgeon Lake, MN 55783

Sturgeon Lake: median income $82,421, home value $267,000, $157/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wartrace, TN 37183 95%823$81,126$245,300$180 Very close on everything we compare
Belmont, OH 43718 95%738$92,576$228,000$146 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Bruceville, TX 76630 95%1,067$83,950$263,700$176 smaller
North Troy, VT 05859 94%987$84,813$232,200$141 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Mc Kean, PA 16426 94%696$80,135$240,700$160 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Jackson Springs, NC 27281 94%1,030$74,547$292,400$193 pricier homes ($25K more)
Pauline, SC 29374 94%985$78,397$247,000$196 Very close on everything we compare
Tanner, AL 35671 94%865$86,163$241,300$171 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Vincent, OH 45784 94%744$82,713$229,800$183 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Prospect, PA 16052 93%740$81,739$247,100$203 Very close on everything we compare
Julian, PA 16844 93%834$85,147$228,300$113 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Spout Spring, VA 24593 93%947$79,018$243,900$195 younger residents
Reedsville, WV 26547 93%810$76,084$204,000$178 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Solsberry, IN 47459 93%589$76,061$244,100$158 Very close on everything we compare
New Bloomfield, MO 65063 93%532$77,957$228,100$135 cheaper homes ($39K less)
New Ulm, TX 78950 93%1,155$91,354$247,700$181 newer homes
Franklin, ME 04634 92%1,192$67,589$264,600$166 Very close on everything we compare
New Woodstock, NY 13122 92%867$81,500$282,300$149 smaller
New Ringgold, PA 17960 92%929$73,281$231,300$168 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Germansville, PA 18053 92%939$83,370$303,100$176 pricier homes ($36K more) · older homes
Union Grove, AL 35175 92%892$74,600$199,300$170 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Taft, TN 38488 92%846$77,875$261,500$205 Very close on everything we compare
Grand Rapids, OH 43522 92%561$76,583$219,000$174 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older homes
Boyne Falls, MI 49713 92%390$82,563$244,000$153 Very close on everything we compare
Warrens, WI 54666 92%191$78,015$220,500$150 cheaper homes ($47K 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.