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 Cashiers, NC 28717

Cashiers: median income $76,085, home value $440,000, $615/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baileys Harbor, WI 54202 87%721$73,784$432,200$406 Very close on everything we compare
Chimacum, WA 98325 84%2,208$79,191$446,300$570 younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Joseph, OR 97846 78%1,917$71,471$383,200$341 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · older homes
Grand Marais, MN 55604 77%952$73,427$352,500$369 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger · older homes
Maple City, MI 49664 73%690$77,500$475,900$410 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Pacific City, OR 97135 72%2,242$93,424$458,200$442 6 min shorter commute
Arroyo Seco, NM 87514 71%1,259$71,556$545,200$432 pricier homes ($105K more) · 9 min longer commute · older homes
Eastsound, WA 98245 70%2,221$95,811$772,600$590 pricier homes ($333K more) · larger
Newcastle, ME 04553 69%948$89,868$398,000$321 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · younger residents
South Thomaston, ME 04858 69%964$87,059$341,300$378 cheaper homes ($99K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Dubois, WY 82513 69%1,527$66,332$382,600$330 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older homes
Rockaway Beach, OR 97136 69%2,243$66,106$375,000$372 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Lopez Island, WA 98261 69%2,217$80,119$787,800$760 pricier homes ($348K more) · larger · older homes
Greenville, ME 04441 68%1,007$64,789$291,900$361 cheaper homes ($148K less) · older homes
Owls Head, ME 04854 68%967$87,325$413,300$379 cheaper homes ($27K less) · younger residents · older homes
Lake Leelanau, MI 49653 68%697$85,787$669,800$386 pricier homes ($230K more) · more homeowners
Three Rivers, CA 93271 68%1,998$85,922$493,900$382 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · older homes
North Garden, VA 22959 67%315$95,461$548,800$414 pricier homes ($109K more) · larger · younger residents
Mackay, ID 83251 67%1,726$73,482$366,900$286 cheaper homes ($73K less) · 6 min longer commute
Boulder Junction, WI 54512 66%834$75,147$294,500$338 cheaper homes ($146K less) · older homes
Hebron, NH 03241 65%845$91,375$470,700$371 pricier homes ($31K more) · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Cushing, ME 04563 65%956$83,500$409,800$376 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents · 9 min longer commute
Schroon Lake, NY 12870 65%781$72,628$268,700$382 cheaper homes ($171K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Oldenburg, IN 47036 65%319$98,300$413,700— cheaper homes ($26K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Fort Davis, TX 79734 65%1,247$65,227$241,300— cheaper homes ($199K less) · more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes

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.