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 Malcolm, NE 68402

Malcolm: median income $123,000, home value $449,000, $241/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Plainfield, NH 03781 94%1,266$109,659$426,400$270 Very close on everything we compare
Holderness, NH 03245 91%1,300$107,863$363,100$273 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Wales, WI 53183 91%459$108,827$398,700$207 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Oronoco, MN 55960 91%316$130,227$481,200$214 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Penn Laird, VA 22846 90%976$115,491$450,000$209 Very close on everything we compare
Granger, IA 50109 90%168$118,669$370,100$251 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger · newer homes
Richfield, WI 53076 90%472$107,414$447,800$241 larger
Mantorville, MN 55955 90%302$132,524$405,700$240 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Madbury, NH 03823 88%1,334$148,365$476,900$295 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Edgecomb, ME 04556 88%1,398$108,750$348,400$296 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Modena, NY 12548 88%1,179$132,083$428,800— Very close on everything we compare
Barneveld, WI 53507 88%386$113,261$347,400$224 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger
East Granby, CT 06026 87%1,247$119,375$388,000$233 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Mendon, UT 84325 87%786$116,094$609,300$219 pricier homes ($160K more) · larger
Lookout Mountain, GA 30750 86%749$107,917$449,300$242 larger · younger residents
North Prairie, WI 53153 86%457$152,543$430,100$271 higher income ($30K more) · larger
Kindred, ND 58051 86%397$107,396$331,100$241 cheaper homes ($118K less) · older homes
East Montpelier, VT 05651 85%1,256$103,393$393,500$201 cheaper homes ($56K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Pewee Valley, KY 40056 85%631$134,115$339,900$207 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger
Van Meter, IA 50261 85%158$155,278$374,100$294 higher income ($32K more) · cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger
Ely, IA 52227 85%282$120,230$341,900$196 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger · newer homes
Lee, NH 03861 84%1,331$131,579$480,600$281 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Pomfret Center, CT 06259 84%1,287$108,476$401,700$267 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · older residents
Boiling Springs, PA 17007 84%1,036$117,130$385,600$185 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Deerfield, WI 53531 84%426$105,000$353,300$219 cheaper homes ($96K 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.