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 Salcha, AK 99714

Salcha: median income $88,258, home value $306,200, $227/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Haven, MI 48050 95%2,856$91,136$337,600$222 pricier homes ($31K more)
Brightwood, VA 22715 94%3,243$87,353$359,400$210 pricier homes ($53K more) · older homes
Glen Spey, NY 12737 93%3,167$87,939$289,700$208 Very close on everything we compare
Pleasant Mount, PA 18453 92%3,135$85,110$325,000$260 Very close on everything we compare
Washington, NH 03280 90%3,151$90,096$355,200$289 pricier homes ($49K more)
Lovell, ME 04051 90%3,130$80,625$295,000$233 Very close on everything we compare
Maurertown, VA 22644 90%3,203$75,606$287,000$240 larger
Allenton, MI 48002 90%2,844$93,948$313,100$214 larger
Harshaw, WI 54529 90%2,493$72,000$268,100$311 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Beldenville, WI 54003 89%2,460$94,352$343,900$175 pricier homes ($38K more) · younger residents
Rosendale, WI 54974 89%2,627$97,222$263,600$172 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Cushing, MN 56443 89%2,317$71,310$341,200$201 pricier homes ($35K more)
Dent, MN 56528 89%2,264$79,500$319,300$248 Very close on everything we compare
Vergas, MN 56587 89%2,257$88,000$367,600$290 pricier homes ($61K more)
Worton, MD 21678 88%3,253$71,023$319,000$266 Very close on everything we compare
Bath, NC 27808 88%3,456$90,472$372,500$295 pricier homes ($66K more) · larger
Bagdad, KY 40003 88%3,047$97,681$344,900$161 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Thompson, OH 44086 88%2,970$92,143$289,100$187 larger
Germfask, MI 49836 88%2,573$85,500$210,100$254 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Hager City, WI 54014 88%2,465$101,667$302,900$208 larger
Star Prairie, WI 54026 88%2,433$95,833$342,200$277 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · younger residents
Zumbro Falls, MN 55991 88%2,490$82,292$350,000$270 pricier homes ($44K more) · younger residents
Fort Ripley, MN 56449 88%2,328$74,861$309,100$202 larger · younger residents
Blandford, MA 01008 87%3,182$97,554$295,200$257 5 min longer commute · older homes
East Nassau, NY 12062 87%3,146$87,679$249,600$217 cheaper homes ($57K less) · more apartments and townhomes

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.