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 Paauilo, HI 96776

Paauilo: median income $93,241, home value $440,900, $605/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Verbank, NY 12585 90%4,888$99,648$484,800$547 pricier homes ($44K more)
Deer Park, WI 54007 85%3,944$85,398$309,400— cheaper homes ($132K less)
Port Murray, NJ 07865 81%4,838$108,056$394,300$408 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · younger residents
Cordova, MD 21625 80%4,803$83,250$372,200$374 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Cuttingsville, VT 05738 79%4,909$95,000$331,900— cheaper homes ($109K less) · more homeowners · more walkable
Wilmington, NY 12997 79%4,852$82,344$322,600$331 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Humboldt, SD 57035 79%3,702$99,565$326,500— cheaper homes ($114K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Collbran, CO 81624 79%3,100$91,739$472,600$431 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents · newer homes
New Durham, NH 03855 78%4,995$100,194$339,400$450 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger · older residents
Russia, OH 45363 78%4,347$95,268$316,900— cheaper homes ($124K less) · younger residents · 9 min shorter commute
Mountain Center, CA 92561 78%2,544$94,063$614,300$405 pricier homes ($173K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Marilla, NY 14102 77%4,632$119,327$259,000— higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($182K less)
Marshfield, VT 05658 76%4,924$72,292$243,800$516 cheaper homes ($197K less)
Semora, NC 27343 76%4,663$79,931$518,800$465 pricier homes ($78K more) · older residents
Wilson, WI 54027 76%3,951$100,750$325,900$316 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Bonner, MT 59823 76%2,973$82,813$474,100$349 pricier homes ($33K more) · older residents · newer homes
Sutter, CA 95982 76%2,391$96,224$417,000$361 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Bradford, RI 02808 75%4,992$106,681$388,300$328 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Sanbornton, NH 03269 75%4,971$107,083$450,000$319 larger · newer homes
Hayden, CO 81639 75%3,152$110,404$443,600$354 larger · more walkable
Applegate, CA 95703 75%2,425$100,214$603,900$351 pricier homes ($163K more) · larger · older residents
Center Tuftonboro, NH 03816 74%4,986$88,971$426,700$300 more homeowners
Buskirk, NY 12028 74%4,887$96,891$247,700— cheaper homes ($193K less)
Scotts Mills, OR 97375 74%2,541$110,758$612,900$380 pricier homes ($172K more) · younger residents
Bradford, NH 03221 73%4,957$109,803$325,400$337 cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger · older residents

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.