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.

Reset

Towns most like Dayton, WY 82836

Dayton: median income $79,375, home value $329,100, $264/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bridport, VT 05734 93%1,665$81,250$358,600$329 pricier homes ($30K more)
Freehold, NY 12431 93%1,660$80,694$262,500$265 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Brussels, WI 54204 92%962$79,803$379,800$299 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Cleveland, MN 56017 92%663$88,056$330,900$211 larger
Tunbridge, VT 05077 91%1,707$92,656$310,900$265 6 min longer commute
Lenhartsville, PA 19534 91%1,613$80,357$293,100$204 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Ellsworth, MI 49729 91%1,073$77,870$243,200$244 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Cambridge, IA 50046 91%720$81,500$229,200$243 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Deer Park, WI 54007 91%729$85,398$309,400— Very close on everything we compare
Kasota, MN 56050 91%658$90,000$342,700$211 5 min shorter commute
Cuttingsville, VT 05738 90%1,695$95,000$331,900— Very close on everything we compare
Hickory, PA 15340 90%1,403$82,431$291,000$211 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older homes
Falls, PA 18615 90%1,592$76,184$229,100$253 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger
Black Earth, WI 53515 90%879$92,625$361,300$218 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Absarokee, MT 59001 90%114$82,692$359,000$271 pricier homes ($30K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Gill, MA 01354 89%1,730$90,208$340,100$230 larger
Groton, VT 05046 89%1,715$84,375$259,000$202 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Sharon, VT 05065 89%1,712$86,042$341,200$252 more apartments and townhomes
Franklin, VT 05457 89%1,670$96,875$279,200$297 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Etowah, NC 28729 89%1,455$84,413$321,000$244 larger
Elysian, MN 56028 89%671$93,375$338,000$253 older residents
Easton, MO 64443 89%736$86,042$300,000— cheaper homes ($29K less) · newer homes
Madison, NH 03849 88%1,772$96,439$390,100$289 pricier homes ($61K more)
Mount Vernon, ME 04352 88%1,817$74,395$264,200$207 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Searsmont, ME 04973 88%1,856$87,000$284,000$292 cheaper homes ($45K 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.