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 Glenwood, MN 56334

Glenwood: median income $69,525, home value $279,900, $191/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Centre Hall, PA 16828 97%949$76,468$273,800$192 Very close on everything we compare
Cumberland, WI 54829 97%162$66,538$245,800$217 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Bridgman, MI 49106 96%509$72,500$262,400$206 Very close on everything we compare
Three Oaks, MI 49128 96%511$67,398$258,300$192 smaller
Hermann, MO 65041 96%526$70,368$249,200$179 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Chester, VT 05143 95%1,131$70,610$255,200$230 Very close on everything we compare
Brandon, VT 05733 94%1,098$68,831$248,200$218 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 5 min longer commute
Valdese, NC 28690 94%993$67,000$211,300$219 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Cameron, WI 54822 94%178$70,000$235,700$174 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Big Timber, MT 59011 94%702$78,000$328,100$211 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Raymond, WA 98577 94%1,349$63,780$276,500$200 Very close on everything we compare
Waldoboro, ME 04572 93%1,272$69,107$274,900$192 Very close on everything we compare
Lyndonville, VT 05851 93%1,136$68,488$227,200$177 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Cogan Station, PA 17728 93%963$77,165$235,500$172 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Amherst, WI 54406 93%309$77,533$284,800$186 Very close on everything we compare
Clifton, TX 76634 93%964$74,694$211,500$164 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Orofino, ID 83544 93%998$69,458$292,700$198 Very close on everything we compare
Marysville, PA 17053 92%997$82,269$227,500$189 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Montoursville, PA 17754 92%973$72,633$249,300$156 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Doylestown, OH 44230 92%760$79,526$229,000$189 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Saint Clair, MI 48079 92%666$79,891$293,000$179 larger
East Jordan, MI 49727 92%498$70,865$222,200$205 cheaper homes ($58K less) · newer homes
Milford, IA 51351 92%161$73,824$273,100$184 Very close on everything we compare
Shell Lake, WI 54871 92%166$69,342$241,000$163 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Hico, TX 76457 92%956$72,238$264,100$164 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.