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 Staples, MN 56479

Staples: median income $59,920, home value $191,700, $140/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Camanche, IA 52730 97%386$64,543$177,200$141 Very close on everything we compare
Pittsfield, ME 04967 95%1,226$57,381$164,100$143 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Shippenville, PA 16254 95%840$56,563$160,900$138 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Watsontown, PA 17777 95%962$67,188$216,800$134 pricier homes ($25K more)
Middleburg, PA 17842 95%964$62,940$210,500$114 larger
Factoryville, PA 18419 95%998$61,402$224,800$156 pricier homes ($33K more)
Hallstead, PA 18822 95%986$60,132$204,100$135 smaller
Chilhowie, VA 24319 95%945$52,721$156,700$138 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Mineral Wells, WV 26150 95%833$61,786$172,500$146 Very close on everything we compare
Kingwood, WV 26537 95%895$59,844$169,900$112 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Wayne, IN 46819 95%605$63,947$168,100$152 larger
Covington, IN 47932 95%568$59,811$182,400$134 Very close on everything we compare
Osseo, WI 54758 95%212$67,930$220,100$152 pricier homes ($28K more)
Montgomery City, MO 63361 95%535$62,371$186,700$140 Very close on everything we compare
Saint James, MO 65559 95%599$61,750$191,200$140 larger
Fairfield, ME 04937 94%1,215$63,933$163,700$164 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Everett, PA 15537 94%932$62,538$197,000$140 larger
Millville, PA 17846 94%977$66,591$224,700$143 pricier homes ($33K more)
Wyalusing, PA 18853 94%970$67,250$225,200$129 pricier homes ($34K more)
Crisfield, MD 21817 94%1,124$55,720$161,000$112 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Meadowview, VA 24361 94%938$70,556$195,400$158 Very close on everything we compare
Troy, NC 27371 94%1,082$63,516$164,300$186 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Wallace, NC 28466 94%1,188$65,558$193,300$161 larger
Amory, MS 38821 94%916$58,834$179,100$118 larger
Proctorville, OH 45669 94%834$67,500$189,200$156 larger

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.