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 Grafton, IL 62037

Grafton: median income $73,454, home value $228,500, $143/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Union Dale, PA 18470 96%805$73,654$227,600$164 Very close on everything we compare
Brooker, FL 32622 96%779$72,639$233,100$162 Very close on everything we compare
Eddington, ME 04428 94%1,189$72,857$244,500$159 larger
Frankfort, ME 04438 93%1,169$80,000$211,300— smaller
Albion, ME 04910 93%1,142$62,361$230,900$185 Very close on everything we compare
Beach Lake, PA 18405 93%826$72,472$253,700$146 pricier homes ($25K more)
Franklin, ME 04634 92%1,202$67,589$264,600$166 pricier homes ($36K more)
Eastman, WI 54626 92%291$69,926$253,000$136 Very close on everything we compare
Lometa, TX 76853 92%701$71,500$245,500$154 Very close on everything we compare
Stockton Springs, ME 04981 91%1,171$77,560$239,000$223 Very close on everything we compare
Alburgh, VT 05440 91%977$76,429$268,300$199 pricier homes ($40K more)
Remsen, NY 13438 91%847$69,797$192,900$135 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · older homes
Boydton, VA 23917 91%677$73,965$201,600$187 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Henry, VA 24102 91%588$76,250$173,000$192 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Westfield, NC 27053 91%577$67,974$224,500$180 larger
Larue, TX 75770 91%554$83,542$239,200$179 Very close on everything we compare
Streetman, TX 75859 91%592$75,139$231,300$184 newer homes
New Ringgold, PA 17960 90%776$73,281$231,300$168 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Sweet Valley, PA 18656 90%771$76,804$233,000$162 Very close on everything we compare
Saluda, VA 23149 90%756$70,743$282,500$206 pricier homes ($54K more)
Hurdle Mills, NC 27541 90%649$75,305$237,000$202 larger
Jamestown, MO 65046 90%111$76,458$210,100$170 smaller
James Creek, PA 16657 89%657$63,353$214,500$164 smaller
Equinunk, PA 18417 89%824$63,333$257,700$179 pricier homes ($29K more) · younger residents
Lowgap, NC 27024 89%554$62,813$188,600$191 cheaper homes ($40K 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.