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 Riverhead, NY 11901

Riverhead: median income $85,061, home value $453,800, $397/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sonora, CA 95370 90%2,520$82,990$448,400$255 Very close on everything we compare
Middleboro, MA 02346 88%113$97,056$468,700$299 Very close on everything we compare
Placerville, CA 95667 88%2,527$89,938$547,600$316 pricier homes ($94K more)
Dallas, OR 97338 88%2,536$78,858$424,400$284 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Prineville, OR 97754 87%2,426$77,199$444,200$278 newer homes
Lebanon, OR 97355 86%2,521$68,595$371,700$286 cheaper homes ($82K less) · younger residents
Silverton, OR 97381 86%2,509$89,383$539,600$313 pricier homes ($86K more) · smaller · younger residents
Sedro Woolley, WA 98284 86%2,445$93,006$482,500$357 pricier homes ($29K more) · younger residents
Burlington, WA 98233 85%2,450$87,614$502,100$348 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller · younger residents
Chehalis, WA 98532 85%2,497$89,910$427,100$286 cheaper homes ($27K less) · younger residents
Cottage Grove, OR 97424 84%2,541$79,688$372,500$275 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Salem, NH 03079 83%148$110,490$473,300$340 higher income ($25K more)
Orangevale, CA 95662 83%2,550$96,689$558,300$352 pricier homes ($105K more) · more single-family homes
Marysville, WA 98271 83%2,447$95,654$538,400$380 pricier homes ($85K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Lakewood, WA 98498 83%2,472$91,664$506,300$324 pricier homes ($53K more) · younger residents · more walkable
Shelton, WA 98584 83%2,497$78,610$393,000$299 cheaper homes ($61K less) · younger residents
Brick, NJ 08724 82%96$103,127$411,000$352 cheaper homes ($43K less) · more homeowners
Lake Geneva, WI 53147 82%821$83,566$369,100$287 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller
Auburn, CA 95603 82%2,537$85,357$650,500$369 pricier homes ($197K more) · more walkable
Beaverton, OR 97078 82%2,504$90,606$478,800$318 pricier homes ($25K more) · younger residents
Junction City, OR 97448 82%2,543$81,029$478,700$288 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Dudley, MA 01571 81%87$84,604$392,600$267 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · younger residents
Sanford, ME 04073 81%198$72,917$282,900$269 cheaper homes ($171K less) · smaller
Jewett City, CT 06351 81%58$82,976$294,400$255 cheaper homes ($159K less) · smaller
Emmett, ID 83617 81%2,219$65,291$429,100$284 smaller · more single-family homes

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.