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 Swannanoa, NC 28778

Swannanoa: median income $73,408, home value $303,300, $256/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Grand Junction, CO 81503 95%1,444$75,053$352,100$274 pricier homes ($49K more)
Powell, WY 82435 95%1,520$67,534$362,700$233 pricier homes ($59K more)
Soldotna, AK 99669 95%3,406$80,980$320,200$269 Very close on everything we compare
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 94%1,039$70,037$314,700$217 Very close on everything we compare
Sturgis, SD 57785 93%1,258$63,897$296,100$221 Very close on everything we compare
Lander, WY 82520 93%1,481$76,959$337,700$236 pricier homes ($34K more)
Ocala, FL 34480 92%450$77,557$282,700$184 larger
Traverse City, MI 49685 92%657$84,590$358,500$261 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger
Grand Junction, CO 81504 92%1,447$70,958$316,500$260 larger
Kenai, AK 99611 92%3,410$79,757$308,500$245 younger residents
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 91%484$90,013$370,500$283 pricier homes ($67K more)
Sheboygan, WI 53083 91%634$75,203$244,800$188 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Alexandria, MN 56308 91%979$78,177$341,900$194 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Farmington, NM 87402 91%1,433$79,461$284,200$201 Very close on everything we compare
Indianola, IA 50125 90%721$84,848$258,900$219 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Spirit Lake, IA 51360 90%864$75,882$271,700$253 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · older residents
Washington, MO 63090 90%516$85,025$273,600$189 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Buffalo, WY 82834 90%1,414$63,395$328,700$222 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller · older residents
Homer, AK 99603 90%3,413$78,767$373,500$310 pricier homes ($70K more)
Louisville, TN 37777 89%91$75,648$345,600$244 pricier homes ($42K more) · 6 min longer commute
Cookeville, TN 38506 89%174$70,279$288,100$193 larger
Angola, IN 46703 89%440$74,569$231,300$173 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Grand Haven, MI 49417 89%551$83,405$316,300$248 larger
Alanson, MI 49706 89%690$76,906$248,500$235 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Elkhorn, WI 53121 89%589$85,643$313,500$222 5 min longer commute

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.