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 Nevis, MN 56467

Nevis: median income $74,297, home value $318,000, $263/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Beulah, MI 49617 94%455$74,207$304,000$352 Very close on everything we compare
Craryville, NY 12521 93%1,090$75,652$338,700$290 older homes
Cornish, NH 03745 92%1,117$91,821$296,000$292 smaller
Swanton, MD 21561 92%937$73,858$328,700$295 7 min longer commute
Birchwood, WI 54817 92%180$83,036$275,000$229 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Fayetteville, TX 78940 92%1,182$89,157$292,200$249 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Friendship, ME 04547 91%1,247$75,625$275,000$242 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · older homes
Wiscasset, ME 04578 91%1,230$81,063$327,400$234 larger
Surry, ME 04684 91%1,276$74,508$296,300$251 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Lancaster, VA 22503 91%1,128$74,051$272,000$211 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 91%1,023$71,383$341,400$248 larger
Saluda, NC 28773 91%1,035$70,703$413,700$319 pricier homes ($96K more)
Lake Tomahawk, WI 54539 91%263$62,841$282,200$246 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Sarona, WI 54870 91%170$67,063$296,100$330 smaller
Sheridan, MT 59749 91%834$80,238$382,400$332 pricier homes ($64K more)
Worton, MD 21678 90%1,079$71,023$319,000$266 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Maggie Valley, NC 28751 90%995$69,057$313,500$292 Very close on everything we compare
Lakemont, GA 30552 90%1,030$66,316$354,700$390 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Bear Lake, MI 49614 90%454$72,250$223,100$201 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Central Lake, MI 49622 90%477$70,098$234,400$278 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Hazelhurst, WI 54531 90%256$84,286$344,900$286 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Cascade, MT 59421 90%792$78,125$377,900$267 pricier homes ($60K more)
Roach, MO 65787 90%618$62,917$314,500$254 smaller
Penobscot, ME 04476 89%1,267$63,194$296,400$280 smaller
Andes, NY 13731 89%1,038$73,750$291,300$214 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 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.