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 West Jefferson, NC 28694

West Jefferson: median income $58,486, home value $273,200, $266/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Clayton, GA 30525 95%149$65,150$274,200$258 Very close on everything we compare
Fryeburg, ME 04037 94%766$54,414$278,200$260 smaller
Hayward, WI 54843 94%834$60,619$243,400$261 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Spooner, WI 54801 93%849$62,625$216,500$210 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Cumberland, WI 54829 93%837$66,538$245,800$217 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Pine River, MN 56474 93%976$59,922$238,600$238 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Chewelah, WA 99109 93%2,004$62,391$327,400$235 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller
Oakland, MD 21550 92%242$64,921$233,300$196 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Salmon, ID 83467 92%1,786$53,917$316,700$265 pricier homes ($44K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Saint Maries, ID 83861 92%1,937$65,508$307,800$237 pricier homes ($35K more)
South Haven, MI 49090 91%488$68,920$295,000$293 larger
Huntsville, OH 43324 90%307$56,466$256,500$254 smaller
Wautoma, WI 54982 90%671$64,201$203,100$209 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Glenwood, MN 56334 90%964$69,525$279,900$191 Very close on everything we compare
Park Rapids, MN 56470 90%1,008$67,500$291,100$192 Very close on everything we compare
Orofino, ID 83544 90%1,912$69,458$292,700$198 Very close on everything we compare
Lakeside, AZ 85929 90%1,609$62,752$306,900$290 pricier homes ($34K more)
Colville, WA 99114 90%2,012$62,711$301,600$225 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · younger residents
Culver, IN 46511 89%427$58,293$233,700$220 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · younger residents
Boyne City, MI 49712 89%637$74,033$294,800$318 Very close on everything we compare
Eagle River, WI 54521 89%772$74,071$305,100$257 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents
Aitkin, MN 56431 89%938$67,828$295,400$213 older residents
Buffalo, WY 82834 89%1,430$63,395$328,700$222 pricier homes ($56K more)
Coquille, OR 97423 89%2,291$61,020$296,100$208 Very close on everything we compare
Raymond, WA 98577 89%2,266$63,780$276,500$200 Very close on everything we compare

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.