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 Philipsburg, MT 59858

Philipsburg: median income $56,719, home value $380,000, $316/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Crawford, CO 81415 88%601$59,141$330,900$333 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Joseph, OR 97846 87%199$71,471$383,200$341 6 min shorter commute
Elk Rapids, MI 49629 85%1,345$65,302$394,600$333 older homes
Yachats, OR 97498 85%541$67,188$511,500$405 pricier homes ($132K more) · older residents
Lyle, WA 98635 85%383$61,448$491,900$270 pricier homes ($112K more) · newer homes
Penobscot, ME 04476 83%2,139$63,194$296,400$280 cheaper homes ($84K less) · more homeowners
Sedgwick, ME 04676 83%2,146$73,333$336,500$235 cheaper homes ($44K less)
New Buffalo, MI 49117 83%1,349$75,114$488,000$351 pricier homes ($108K more) · larger
Dubois, WY 82513 83%262$66,332$382,600$330 Very close on everything we compare
Damariscotta, ME 04543 82%2,112$59,423$363,500$431 younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Windham, NY 12496 82%1,930$59,286$314,200$288 cheaper homes ($66K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Hillsdale, NY 12529 82%1,967$70,750$384,600$334 larger · older homes
Three Lakes, WI 54562 82%1,155$57,422$326,300$370 cheaper homes ($54K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Cable, WI 54821 82%1,052$57,813$321,400$268 cheaper homes ($59K less) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Golden, MO 65658 82%1,217$51,641$321,800$215 cheaper homes ($58K less) · newer homes
Arroyo Seco, NM 87514 82%787$71,556$545,200$432 pricier homes ($165K more)
Freedom, NH 03836 81%2,044$66,136$389,000$344 more homeowners
Deer Isle, ME 04627 81%2,148$61,703$299,500$278 cheaper homes ($81K less) · more homeowners
Ludlow, VT 05149 81%1,977$64,191$365,300$300 more apartments and townhomes
Sperryville, VA 22740 81%1,848$65,938$469,400$340 pricier homes ($89K more) · older residents
Mountain Rest, SC 29664 81%1,757$51,705$241,800$316 cheaper homes ($138K less) · 5 min longer commute
Mackay, ID 83251 81%167$73,482$366,900$286 Very close on everything we compare
El Prado, NM 87529 81%791$61,618$487,300$336 pricier homes ($107K more) · larger · newer homes
Tamworth, NH 03886 80%2,034$74,450$368,200$274 older residents
Bethel, ME 04217 80%2,043$61,125$329,700$274 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute

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.