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 Semora, NC 27343

Semora: median income $79,931, home value $518,800, $465/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hesperus, CO 81326 90%1,600$80,089$558,600$413 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Parks, AZ 86018 90%1,832$77,279$628,400— pricier homes ($110K more)
Bonner, MT 59823 89%1,912$82,813$474,100$349 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · younger residents
Potter Valley, CA 95469 89%2,380$82,683$529,200$326 Very close on everything we compare
Huson, MT 59846 88%1,940$70,851$461,200$472 cheaper homes ($58K less) · more homeowners
Worley, ID 83876 88%2,059$60,729$536,700$411 Very close on everything we compare
Hawi, HI 96719 88%4,681$79,471$612,100— pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · younger residents
Deming, WA 98244 88%2,308$67,159$447,000$394 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Bridport, VT 05734 87%597$81,250$358,600$329 cheaper homes ($160K less)
Cordova, MD 21625 87%235$83,250$372,200$374 cheaper homes ($147K less) · younger residents
Collbran, CO 81624 87%1,577$91,739$472,600$431 cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents
Hydesville, CA 95547 87%2,421$96,827$481,100$358 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Georgetown, ME 04548 86%705$84,250$427,200$321 cheaper homes ($92K less) · older residents
Cushing, ME 04563 86%730$83,500$409,800$376 cheaper homes ($109K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Whitewater, CO 81527 86%1,603$76,815$425,600$328 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Trout Lake, WA 98650 86%2,269$76,607$730,300$404 pricier homes ($212K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Cove, OR 97824 84%2,089$80,263$413,700$267 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger
New Hampton, NH 03256 83%629$87,917$382,000$353 cheaper homes ($137K less) · larger · more walkable
Merrifield, MN 56465 83%1,039$74,400$372,100$337 cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger
Cascade, MT 59421 83%1,819$78,125$377,900$267 cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger
Cascade, ID 83611 83%1,980$77,411$429,400$335 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Herald, CA 95638 83%2,293$91,500$713,600$369 pricier homes ($195K more) · larger
Marcola, OR 97454 83%2,334$88,700$454,200$321 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Temple, NH 03084 82%581$94,107$401,000$293 cheaper homes ($118K less) · 6 min longer commute
Merrimac, WI 53561 82%732$91,103$427,600$251 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger

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.