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 Chattanooga, TN 37419

Chattanooga: median income $74,787, home value $351,800, $245/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Paonia, CO 81428 94%1,252$75,799$432,700$279 pricier homes ($81K more) · smaller
Putney, VT 05346 93%882$79,118$320,800$202 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 93%153$71,383$341,400$248 5 min longer commute
Hendersonville, NC 28791 92%162$78,827$370,700$236 larger
Bellaire, MI 49615 90%687$79,469$292,300$251 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Boyne City, MI 49712 89%703$74,033$294,800$318 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Llano, TX 78643 89%823$68,365$362,600$239 Very close on everything we compare
Lincolnville, ME 04849 88%1,074$80,377$360,600$329 Very close on everything we compare
Harbor Springs, MI 49740 88%725$89,250$363,500$312 Very close on everything we compare
Wiscasset, ME 04578 87%1,038$81,063$327,400$234 7 min longer commute
Blue Hill, ME 04614 87%1,100$80,377$399,500$276 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Black Mountain, NC 28711 87%178$74,761$370,200$307 larger
Columbus, NC 28722 87%180$67,760$307,300$225 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 5 min longer commute
Minocqua, WI 54548 87%783$69,569$336,400$288 Very close on everything we compare
Green Lake, WI 54941 87%638$79,146$276,000$239 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller
Deerwood, MN 56444 87%905$77,500$365,200$238 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Bethlehem, NH 03574 86%966$81,250$288,300$191 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
Grand Marais, MN 55604 86%917$73,427$352,500$369 smaller
Joseph, OR 97846 86%1,811$71,471$383,200$341 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Landisville, PA 17538 85%602$86,719$299,300$188 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Flat Rock, NC 28731 85%169$66,309$402,300$253 pricier homes ($51K more)
Hendersonville, NC 28739 85%163$73,582$394,900$273 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Tiger, GA 30576 85%111$81,417$324,900$245 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · younger residents
Eagle River, WI 54521 85%779$74,071$305,100$257 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Woodruff, WI 54568 85%785$72,589$281,000$223 cheaper homes ($71K less) · more homeowners

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.