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 Brownsville, MN 55919

Brownsville: median income $77,917, home value $223,300, $260/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bath, NH 03740 94%960$67,813$234,400$253 Very close on everything we compare
Deerbrook, WI 54424 94%150$77,500$229,700$223 larger
Germfask, MI 49836 93%317$85,500$210,100$254 older residents
Ridgeway, WI 53582 93%80$89,107$266,400$219 pricier homes ($43K more)
Mason, WI 54856 93%192$76,500$193,800$221 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Westmoreland, KS 66549 93%396$79,318$202,300$237 Very close on everything we compare
Livermore, ME 04253 92%1,046$70,441$221,800$242 larger · older homes
Falls, PA 18615 92%799$76,184$229,100$253 larger
Draper, VA 24324 92%720$80,066$214,000$224 larger
Frankford, WV 24938 92%697$77,946$174,700$234 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Morrill, ME 04952 91%1,098$67,763$215,700$231 larger
Freehold, NY 12431 91%874$80,694$262,500$265 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Pauline, SC 29374 91%794$78,397$247,000$196 larger
Aniwa, WI 54408 91%133$72,768$165,100$213 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Gleason, WI 54435 91%146$83,125$217,600$229 larger
Genoa, WI 54632 91%11$82,500$236,100— Very close on everything we compare
Bonnots Mill, MO 65016 91%355$78,750$269,400— pricier homes ($46K more) · more renters
Bryant Pond, ME 04219 90%1,025$62,361$215,900$296 Very close on everything we compare
Whitefield, ME 04353 90%1,079$73,875$242,300$247 larger
East Nassau, NY 12062 90%900$87,679$249,600$217 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Andes, NY 13731 90%841$73,750$291,300$214 pricier homes ($68K more)
Penn Run, PA 15765 90%664$73,646$186,000— cheaper homes ($37K less)
Burlington, MI 49029 90%331$75,188$207,200$203 5 min longer commute
Central Lake, MI 49622 90%313$70,098$234,400$278 larger
Levering, MI 49755 90%347$65,789$188,900$339 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 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.