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 Gatlinburg, TN 37738

Gatlinburg: median income $57,330, home value $334,100, $361/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ronan, MT 59864 90%1,764$61,978$297,700$274 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Ignacio, CO 81137 88%1,343$63,860$335,300$372 Very close on everything we compare
Ranchos De Taos, NM 87557 88%1,234$49,337$356,400$350 more homeowners
Ranchester, WY 82839 87%1,393$57,708$385,900$324 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller
Whittier, NC 28789 85%23$51,713$221,600$257 cheaper homes ($113K less)
Gerber, CA 96035 85%2,113$49,760$237,900$258 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Siletz, OR 97380 85%2,196$60,132$277,200— cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Clyde, NC 28721 84%34$62,279$281,800$232 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Polson, MT 59860 84%1,768$62,047$441,500$309 pricier homes ($107K more) · larger · older residents
Delta, CO 81416 84%1,363$50,243$319,400$262 larger
Bonners Ferry, ID 83805 84%1,885$70,083$418,900$292 pricier homes ($85K more) · larger
Searsport, ME 04974 83%976$64,303$224,400$290 cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller · older homes
Deep Gap, NC 28618 83%115$59,653$338,400$281 smaller · more single-family homes
Fruitland, ID 83619 83%1,848$66,267$348,300$254 larger
Tillamook, OR 97141 83%2,194$69,831$398,100$335 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · older homes
Jefferson, NC 28640 82%124$53,155$282,900$264 cheaper homes ($51K less) · older residents
Sturgis, SD 57785 82%1,204$63,897$296,100$221 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Cloverdale, OR 97112 82%2,194$61,061$411,500$415 pricier homes ($77K more) · smaller
Tonasket, WA 98855 82%2,020$60,179$257,800$209 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Damariscotta, ME 04543 81%935$59,423$363,500$431 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller · older residents
Bryson City, NC 28713 81%21$50,882$221,900$258 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger · older residents
Sylva, NC 28779 81%31$57,727$243,700$232 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger
Hamilton, MT 59840 81%1,743$61,752$428,100$343 pricier homes ($94K more) · larger · older residents
Cortez, CO 81321 81%1,394$59,506$289,000$217 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Show Low, AZ 85901 81%1,499$59,779$280,300$309 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · older residents

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.