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 Elysian, MN 56028

Elysian: median income $93,375, home value $338,000, $253/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ridgeway, WI 53582 95%204$89,107$266,400$219 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Shoreham, VT 05770 93%1,010$92,188$320,000$217 Very close on everything we compare
Bridport, VT 05734 92%1,007$81,250$358,600$329 Very close on everything we compare
Hickman, TN 38567 92%694$100,368$340,500— Very close on everything we compare
Freehold, NY 12431 91%993$80,694$262,500$265 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger
Galena, MD 21635 91%976$101,618$402,000$258 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger
Gum Spring, VA 23065 91%932$92,577$305,100$251 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Goode, VA 24556 91%883$87,250$399,000$204 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
Neosho, WI 53059 91%266$91,114$342,800$232 larger
Black Earth, WI 53515 91%212$92,625$361,300$218 larger
Hager City, WI 54014 91%63$101,667$302,900$208 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Bella Vista, CA 96008 91%1,458$92,313$345,800$233 Very close on everything we compare
Cascade, MT 59421 90%892$78,125$377,900$267 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Cascade Locks, OR 97014 90%1,374$75,000$387,700$246 pricier homes ($50K more)
Cornish, NH 03745 89%1,062$91,821$296,000$292 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
East Wakefield, NH 03830 89%1,127$99,960$353,400$340 Very close on everything we compare
Waterboro, ME 04087 89%1,140$98,105$247,300$299 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger
Searsmont, ME 04973 89%1,206$87,000$284,000$292 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · younger residents
Sharon, VT 05065 89%1,055$86,042$341,200$252 younger residents
New Haven, VT 05472 89%1,015$92,537$378,000$217 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Earlton, NY 12058 89%1,001$85,469$273,500— cheaper homes ($65K less)
Galway, NY 12074 89%985$94,583$304,800$234 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Middle Grove, NY 12850 89%984$92,083$317,300$246 larger
Andes, NY 13731 89%961$73,750$291,300$214 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Pleasant Mount, PA 18453 89%939$85,110$325,000$260 6 min longer commute

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.