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 Vergas, MN 56587

Vergas: median income $88,000, home value $367,600, $290/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Washington, NH 03280 92%1,180$90,096$355,200$289 5 min longer commute
Gordon, TX 76453 92%985$99,293$350,000$301 Very close on everything we compare
Warwick, MD 21912 91%1,122$69,868$391,700$259 Very close on everything we compare
New Haven, MI 48050 91%691$91,136$337,600$222 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Birchwood, WI 54817 91%214$83,036$275,000$229 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger
Bath, NC 27808 90%1,252$90,472$372,500$295 larger · younger residents
Harshaw, WI 54529 90%302$72,000$268,100$311 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Cascade, MT 59421 90%751$78,125$377,900$267 larger
Rocky Mount, MO 65072 90%600$78,750$335,700$286 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Whitewater, CO 81527 90%829$76,815$425,600$328 pricier homes ($58K more)
Deer Island, OR 97054 90%1,288$87,327$459,000$235 pricier homes ($91K more)
Lyons, OR 97358 90%1,294$95,391$491,500$325 pricier homes ($124K more) · larger
New Hampton, NH 03256 89%1,191$87,917$382,000$353 larger · younger residents
Lovell, ME 04051 89%1,213$80,625$295,000$233 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Warriors Mark, PA 16877 89%972$68,500$307,700— cheaper homes ($60K less)
Swanton, MD 21561 89%969$73,858$328,700$295 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Columbia, VA 23038 89%1,090$87,083$434,400$190 pricier homes ($67K more)
Hazelhurst, WI 54531 89%296$84,286$344,900$286 older homes
Hydesville, CA 95547 89%1,468$96,827$481,100$358 pricier homes ($114K more)
Salcha, AK 99714 89%2,257$88,258$306,200$227 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Woodstock Valley, CT 06282 88%1,212$91,780$353,400$312 Very close on everything we compare
Pleasant Mount, PA 18453 88%1,063$85,110$325,000$260 cheaper homes ($43K less) · younger residents
Worton, MD 21678 88%1,114$71,023$319,000$266 cheaper homes ($49K less) · younger residents
Good Hope, GA 30641 88%1,097$70,491$409,400$220 pricier homes ($42K more)
Solon Springs, WI 54873 88%190$88,359$253,100$243 cheaper homes ($115K less) · 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.