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 Battle Lake, MN 56515

Battle Lake: median income $73,750, home value $398,500, $251/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tamworth, NH 03886 97%1,200$74,450$368,200$274 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Mackay, ID 83251 93%886$73,482$366,900$286 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Sheridan, MT 59749 92%793$80,238$382,400$332 Very close on everything we compare
Westwood, CA 96137 91%1,332$65,896$414,900$322 Very close on everything we compare
White Stone, VA 22578 90%1,154$80,783$441,600$252 pricier homes ($43K more)
Pentwater, MI 49449 90%486$80,917$307,300$278 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Frankfort, MI 49635 90%474$72,422$366,700$263 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Austin, CO 81410 90%810$67,826$366,700$213 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Mercer, WI 54547 89%270$63,500$306,600$296 cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller
Sunrise Beach, MO 65079 89%583$70,024$394,800$302 larger
Freedom, NH 03836 88%1,210$66,136$389,000$344 smaller
Reedville, VA 22539 88%1,151$89,200$411,400$302 Very close on everything we compare
Hazelhurst, WI 54531 88%288$84,286$344,900$286 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Custer, SD 57730 88%419$83,469$378,800$279 larger
Dubois, WY 82513 88%707$66,332$382,600$330 smaller
Maggie Valley, NC 28751 87%993$69,057$313,500$292 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger
Saluda, NC 28773 87%1,034$70,703$413,700$319 younger residents
Tryon, NC 28782 87%1,039$72,946$345,200$238 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Swanton, MD 21561 86%956$73,858$328,700$295 cheaper homes ($70K less) · 8 min longer commute
Rock Hall, MD 21661 86%1,102$90,492$283,200$304 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Lake Tomahawk, WI 54539 86%296$62,841$282,200$246 cheaper homes ($116K less) · smaller · younger residents
Minocqua, WI 54548 86%287$69,569$336,400$288 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · younger residents
Roach, MO 65787 86%585$62,917$314,500$254 cheaper homes ($84K less) · smaller
Craryville, NY 12521 85%1,124$75,652$338,700$290 cheaper homes ($60K less) · younger residents
Chestertown, NY 12817 85%1,083$93,393$327,600$316 cheaper homes ($71K less)

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.