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 Vernon, VT 05354

Vernon: median income $85,682, home value $285,100, $204/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lennox, SD 57039 95%1,227$83,787$290,400$230 Very close on everything we compare
Parsonsburg, MD 21849 93%339$71,211$249,200$213 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Belgium, WI 53004 93%774$84,821$256,000$215 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Oostburg, WI 53070 93%771$91,557$282,000$194 larger
Bottineau, ND 58318 93%1,400$85,729$220,600$176 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Dayville, CT 06241 92%70$88,389$298,200$234 larger
Random Lake, WI 53075 92%781$93,750$297,100$212 Very close on everything we compare
Hazel Green, WI 53811 92%913$82,769$224,700$156 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Bangor, WI 54614 92%930$85,588$250,300$171 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Colfax, WI 54730 92%968$83,010$249,200$218 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Boulder, MT 59632 92%1,946$68,750$278,800$180 Very close on everything we compare
Troy, NH 03465 91%17$88,871$266,600$259 5 min longer commute
Walpole, NH 03608 91%23$88,224$355,600$219 pricier homes ($71K more)
Alanson, MI 49706 91%636$76,906$248,500$235 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Galesville, WI 54630 91%948$95,549$272,300$153 larger
Paynesville, MN 56362 91%1,113$86,212$258,900$188 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Eagar, AZ 85925 91%2,060$82,708$248,400$227 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Warren, ME 04864 90%189$74,616$232,700$251 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Stevens, PA 17578 90%258$81,990$314,900$196 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Dayton, VA 22821 90%454$84,603$267,100$225 larger
Verona, VA 24482 90%464$75,866$262,000$224 larger
New Bremen, OH 45869 90%633$88,277$249,700$183 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · older homes
Baroda, MI 49101 90%715$75,048$252,100$164 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Bridgman, MI 49106 90%719$72,500$262,400$206 larger
Milford, IA 51351 90%1,141$73,824$273,100$184 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.