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 Akeley, MN 56433

Akeley: median income $58,889, home value $228,500, $185/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake Tomahawk, WI 54539 94%258$62,841$282,200$246 pricier homes ($54K more)
Florence, WI 54121 93%318$58,750$189,600$194 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Berrien Center, MI 49102 92%543$63,000$262,400$148 pricier homes ($34K more)
Conover, WI 54519 91%269$59,628$271,600$271 pricier homes ($43K more)
State Road, NC 28676 90%1,024$60,833$242,600$191 larger
Lampe, MO 65681 90%723$57,548$214,800$228 older residents
Roach, MO 65787 90%622$62,917$314,500$254 pricier homes ($86K more)
Bear Lake, MI 49614 89%450$72,250$223,100$201 larger
Centertown, MO 65023 89%590$72,663$221,200$193 Very close on everything we compare
Green Ridge, MO 65332 89%583$66,750$243,500$146 Very close on everything we compare
Ninilchik, AK 99639 89%2,416$47,333$250,800$168 Very close on everything we compare
Jackman, ME 04945 88%1,167$52,045$197,000$184 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 6 min longer commute
Union Mills, NC 28167 88%1,033$59,732$234,500$217 Very close on everything we compare
Phelps, WI 54554 88%276$63,750$247,300$289 Very close on everything we compare
Springbrook, WI 54875 88%162$57,022$172,500$191 cheaper homes ($56K less) · 6 min longer commute
Drummond Island, MI 49726 87%527$67,232$273,200— pricier homes ($45K more) · older residents
Hilbert, WI 54129 87%372$67,381$279,700$208 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Mason, WI 54856 87%174$76,500$193,800$221 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Trego, WI 54888 87%154$63,971$240,500$249 7 min longer commute
Webster, WI 54893 87%138$56,129$234,200$220 larger
Scroggins, TX 75480 87%964$73,920$299,600$170 pricier homes ($71K more)
Fort Davis, TX 79734 87%1,234$65,227$241,300— Very close on everything we compare
Penobscot, ME 04476 86%1,261$63,194$296,400$280 pricier homes ($68K more)
Mc Millan, MI 49853 86%429$54,563$166,400$214 cheaper homes ($62K less) · 6 min longer commute
Cape Vincent, NY 13618 85%910$61,494$228,700$143 more apartments and townhomes

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.