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 Elgin, AZ 85611

Elgin: median income $91,458, home value $380,300, $248/sq ft, 43-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oakham, MA 01068 90%2,226$102,000$420,100$265 pricier homes ($40K more)
Francestown, NH 03043 89%2,243$104,063$408,200$252 pricier homes ($28K more) · older residents
Stella, NC 28582 89%1,933$89,348$354,900$174 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Temple, NH 03084 88%2,240$94,107$401,000$293 6 min shorter commute
Schuyler, VA 22969 88%1,847$94,659$314,200$234 cheaper homes ($66K less) · younger residents
Parker, KS 66072 87%991$101,875$296,800$235 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Ramah, CO 80832 87%626$90,556$450,000$205 pricier homes ($70K more)
Greenwood, CA 95635 87%770$101,250$485,200$250 pricier homes ($105K more)
Granville, MA 01034 86%2,178$91,016$356,800$231 larger · older residents · older homes
Lyndeborough, NH 03082 86%2,244$120,313$397,700$220 higher income ($29K more)
Beaverdam, VA 23015 86%1,905$113,771$442,900$257 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Great Meadows, NJ 07838 85%2,066$121,599$440,100$265 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($60K more) · larger
Rixeyville, VA 22737 85%1,887$99,177$401,000$314 larger
Spring Grove, VA 23881 85%1,938$109,531$318,800$208 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Aydlett, NC 27916 85%1,999$79,329$453,200$155 pricier homes ($73K more)
Cross Junction, VA 22625 84%1,877$95,515$361,900$209 larger · older residents
Suffolk, VA 23432 84%1,962$94,306$391,500$208 older residents
Wadmalaw Island, SC 29487 84%1,770$105,592$487,900$347 pricier homes ($108K more) · larger
Lake Nebagamon, WI 54849 84%1,430$80,714$261,000$219 cheaper homes ($119K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Royalston, MA 01368 83%2,221$102,500$347,300$206 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Brookfield, VT 05036 83%2,215$109,612$343,100$191 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older residents · older homes
Freeland, MD 21053 83%1,964$89,497$408,300$238 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Hartfield, VA 23071 83%1,967$86,500$456,500$247 pricier homes ($76K more) · 9 min shorter commute
Gerrardstown, WV 25420 83%1,888$98,785$289,400$216 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger
Raymond, NE 68428 83%996$115,000$385,600$198 6 min shorter 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.