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 Audubon, MN 56511

Audubon: median income $89,875, home value $401,900, $261/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Soulsbyville, CA 95372 96%1,374$97,398$408,300$255 Very close on everything we compare
Searsmont, ME 04973 94%1,298$87,000$284,000$292 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Etowah, NC 28729 94%1,057$84,413$321,000$244 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger
Brussels, WI 54204 94%429$79,803$379,800$299 Very close on everything we compare
Black Earth, WI 53515 93%400$92,625$361,300$218 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Swoope, VA 24479 92%1,043$80,583$390,400$191 Very close on everything we compare
Piedmont, SD 57769 92%401$94,375$367,400$243 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Pateros, WA 98846 92%1,119$84,464$338,200$276 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Addy, WA 99101 92%1,025$78,750$434,800$246 pricier homes ($33K more)
Madison, NH 03849 91%1,218$96,439$390,100$289 more single-family homes
Galway, NY 12074 91%1,102$94,583$304,800$234 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Goode, VA 24556 91%1,070$87,250$399,000$204 older residents
Smithfield, KY 40068 91%799$80,750$325,300$232 cheaper homes ($77K less) · 5 min longer commute
Columbia City, OR 97018 91%1,274$96,750$460,000$294 pricier homes ($58K more)
Cove, OR 97824 91%1,048$80,263$413,700$267 Very close on everything we compare
Franklin, VT 05457 90%1,113$96,875$279,200$297 cheaper homes ($123K less)
New Haven, VT 05472 90%1,117$92,537$378,000$217 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Crawford, VA 22841 90%1,046$92,862$370,500$207 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Hanover, VA 23069 90%1,138$83,453$356,400$274 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Brooklyn, WI 53521 90%427$108,036$391,100$263 larger
Cascade, ID 83611 90%956$77,411$429,400$335 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Hollis Center, ME 04042 89%1,250$95,950$338,900$270 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Durham, ME 04222 89%1,261$99,181$322,200$301 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Freehold, NY 12431 89%1,118$80,694$262,500$265 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Mc Henry, MD 21541 89%974$82,955$342,500$258 cheaper homes ($59K 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.