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 Jefferson, NC 28640

Jefferson: median income $53,155, home value $282,900, $264/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Apalachicola, FL 32320 93%506$46,713$241,500$279 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Salmon, ID 83467 93%1,787$53,917$316,700$265 pricier homes ($34K more)
Lakeside, AZ 85929 92%1,612$62,752$306,900$290 larger
Kettle Falls, WA 99141 92%2,022$58,302$320,700$201 pricier homes ($38K more)
Clayton, GA 30525 91%153$65,150$274,200$258 Very close on everything we compare
Chewelah, WA 99109 91%2,005$62,391$327,400$235 pricier homes ($45K more)
Eureka Springs, AR 72632 90%683$46,354$247,300$223 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Oroville, WA 98844 90%2,086$44,201$293,800$252 Very close on everything we compare
Colebrook, NH 03576 88%785$52,682$214,900$204 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller
Fryeburg, ME 04037 88%762$54,414$278,200$260 more homeowners
New Market, VA 22844 88%217$65,974$281,200$202 Very close on everything we compare
Crystal River, FL 34428 88%519$50,779$260,200$212 larger
Del Norte, CO 81132 88%1,376$55,000$209,500$235 cheaper homes ($73K less) · older homes
Gerber, CA 96035 88%2,205$49,760$237,900$258 cheaper homes ($45K less) · younger residents
Winston, OR 97496 88%2,254$56,071$257,600$244 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Hayward, WI 54843 87%833$60,619$243,400$261 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Crosby, MN 56441 87%951$50,298$208,700$209 cheaper homes ($74K less) · older homes
Pine River, MN 56474 87%976$59,922$238,600$238 cheaper homes ($44K less) · younger residents
Republic, WA 99166 87%2,051$56,676$286,000$233 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Cape Charles, VA 23310 86%308$62,500$377,300$318 pricier homes ($94K more)
Panacea, FL 32346 86%473$61,700$267,200$257 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Montezuma, IA 50171 86%694$65,000$216,000$269 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Saint Maries, ID 83861 86%1,938$65,508$307,800$237 larger · 5 min longer commute
Portola, CA 96122 86%2,118$54,205$273,700$254 younger residents · more walkable
Canyonville, OR 97417 86%2,246$50,217$246,200$269 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller

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.