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 Vaughn, MT 59487

Vaughn: median income $56,359, home value $229,300, $232/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mount Upton, NY 13809 95%1,786$52,167$206,900— Very close on everything we compare
Bennett, NC 27208 93%1,835$58,947$172,700$226 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Bunn, NC 27508 92%1,877$50,368$258,600— pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Melbourne, KY 41059 92%1,482$58,553$217,400$209 larger
Lakeville, OH 44638 92%1,526$64,318$195,100$206 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Sears, MI 49679 91%1,294$62,120$180,600$197 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Eckert, CO 81418 91%629$54,417$266,000$203 pricier homes ($37K more) · more renters
Mount Pleasant Mills, PA 17853 90%1,762$63,787$225,900$279 larger
Crab Orchard, TN 37723 90%1,584$60,526$167,700$181 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Holton, MI 49425 90%1,258$62,841$178,800$180 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Ogema, MN 56569 90%733$57,434$209,500— Very close on everything we compare
Bellwood, NE 68624 90%824$69,167$195,000$218 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Bluejacket, OK 74333 90%1,120$54,667$181,300— cheaper homes ($48K less)
Creekside, PA 15732 89%1,660$62,000$200,200— cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
Fulks Run, VA 22830 89%1,743$61,038$215,000$173 Very close on everything we compare
Lynnville, IN 47619 89%1,381$64,188$160,700$173 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Martin, MI 49070 89%1,306$68,750$206,500$183 larger
Allen, MI 49227 89%1,363$53,587$159,000— cheaper homes ($70K less) · older residents
Fountain, MI 49410 89%1,240$61,515$172,600$177 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Pomona, MO 65789 89%1,244$57,083$186,400$175 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Pinehurst, ID 83850 89%219$67,574$297,800$253 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger
Porter, ME 04068 88%1,956$60,417$226,100$201 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Corinna, ME 04928 88%2,006$56,547$163,200$213 cheaper homes ($66K less) · 6 min longer commute
Freedom, ME 04941 88%2,014$65,662$214,000$216 Very close on everything we compare
Toms Brook, VA 22660 88%1,755$67,917$268,600$261 pricier homes ($39K more)

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.