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 Lincoln, MT 59639

Lincoln: median income $57,778, home value $371,700, $418/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Crawford, CO 81415 90%625$59,141$330,900$333 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Greenville, ME 04441 88%2,036$64,789$291,900$361 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Glenville, NC 28736 85%1,727$70,855$428,400$373 pricier homes ($57K more)
Saint Germain, WI 54558 85%1,102$59,718$261,000$345 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger
Dubois, WY 82513 85%278$66,332$382,600$330 larger · more renters
Schroon Lake, NY 12870 84%1,880$72,628$268,700$382 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger · younger residents
Fort Davis, TX 79734 84%1,221$65,227$241,300— cheaper homes ($130K less) · larger · newer homes
Lakemont, GA 30552 83%1,731$66,316$354,700$390 larger · 8 min longer commute
Freedom, NH 03836 82%2,007$66,136$389,000$344 10 min longer commute
Conover, WI 54519 82%1,112$59,628$271,600$271 cheaper homes ($100K less) · 6 min longer commute
Lake Tomahawk, WI 54539 82%1,099$62,841$282,200$246 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Longville, MN 56655 82%868$57,404$335,200$377 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Rockaway Beach, OR 97136 82%546$66,106$375,000$372 larger · more walkable
Boulder Junction, WI 54512 81%1,092$75,147$294,500$338 cheaper homes ($77K less) · more renters
Mackay, ID 83251 81%215$73,482$366,900$286 Very close on everything we compare
Penobscot, ME 04476 80%2,100$63,194$296,400$280 cheaper homes ($75K less) · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Monterey, VA 24465 80%1,765$61,379$202,500$357 cheaper homes ($169K less) · 5 min longer commute
Walden, CO 80480 80%536$49,167$230,700$372 cheaper homes ($141K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Moyie Springs, ID 83845 80%204$72,695$373,700$325 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Boothbay, ME 04537 79%2,071$76,667$358,600$296 larger · younger residents
Deer Isle, ME 04627 79%2,108$61,703$299,500$278 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Elk Rapids, MI 49629 79%1,311$65,302$394,600$333 larger · older homes
Drummond Island, MI 49726 79%1,370$67,232$273,200— cheaper homes ($99K less) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Phelps, WI 54554 79%1,119$63,750$247,300$289 cheaper homes ($124K less)
Council, ID 83612 79%237$54,810$309,600$257 cheaper homes ($62K 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.