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 Backus, MN 56435

Backus: median income $62,381, home value $256,800, $273/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hilbert, WI 54129 94%354$67,381$279,700$208 Very close on everything we compare
Union Mills, NC 28167 93%1,016$59,732$234,500$217 Very close on everything we compare
Anchor Point, AK 99556 92%2,436$62,179$239,200$286 Very close on everything we compare
Fryeburg, ME 04037 90%1,148$54,414$278,200$260 Very close on everything we compare
Minong, WI 54859 90%132$55,882$225,300$336 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Siren, WI 54872 90%122$60,787$233,200$258 Very close on everything we compare
Fall Branch, TN 37656 89%942$63,617$236,600$194 Very close on everything we compare
Holcombe, WI 54745 89%192$67,891$255,200$252 older residents · 5 min longer commute
Webster, WI 54893 89%120$56,129$234,200$220 larger
Kingston, ID 83839 89%1,025$63,889$384,400$257 pricier homes ($128K more) · smaller
West Enfield, ME 04493 88%1,240$61,563$183,700$323 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Maurertown, VA 22644 88%972$75,606$287,000$240 pricier homes ($30K more) · 6 min longer commute
Newland, NC 28657 88%985$59,702$240,300$249 larger
Central Lake, MI 49622 88%455$70,098$234,400$278 Very close on everything we compare
Clayton, WI 54004 88%153$68,182$240,600$345 younger residents
Lake Tomahawk, WI 54539 88%241$62,841$282,200$246 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller
Phelps, WI 54554 88%259$63,750$247,300$289 smaller · older residents
Roach, MO 65787 88%610$62,917$314,500$254 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller · older residents
Livermore, ME 04253 87%1,176$70,441$221,800$242 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older homes
Levering, MI 49755 87%466$65,789$188,900$339 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Deerbrook, WI 54424 87%274$77,500$229,700$223 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Irma, WI 54442 87%250$64,779$229,800$209 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Conover, WI 54519 87%252$59,628$271,600$271 smaller
Sarona, WI 54870 87%149$67,063$296,100$330 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Stone Lake, WI 54876 87%155$72,794$282,100$340 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller

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.