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 Traverse City, MI 49685

Traverse City: median income $84,590, home value $358,500, $261/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Helena, MT 59602 95%1,272$92,985$408,600$270 pricier homes ($50K more)
Boise, ID 83713 95%1,516$91,295$454,100$273 pricier homes ($96K more)
Fletcher, NC 28732 94%667$81,852$376,700$233 Very close on everything we compare
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 93%678$90,013$370,500$283 Very close on everything we compare
Homer, AK 99603 93%2,827$78,767$373,500$310 smaller
Swannanoa, NC 28778 92%657$73,408$303,300$256 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Fruita, CO 81521 92%1,246$88,458$422,900$294 pricier homes ($64K more)
Gansevoort, NY 12831 91%600$100,024$343,100$264 Very close on everything we compare
Norwalk, IA 50211 91%468$103,712$316,100$231 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Soldotna, AK 99669 91%2,813$80,980$320,200$269 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Hanahan, SC 29410 90%874$87,984$374,800$250 Very close on everything we compare
Melbourne, FL 32904 90%1,188$90,673$366,300$208 larger
Johnson City, TN 37615 90%604$77,525$294,900$200 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Knoxville, TN 37931 90%614$92,150$359,600$208 Very close on everything we compare
Dubuque, IA 52002 90%303$91,036$298,900$173 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Alexandria, MN 56308 90%482$78,177$341,900$194 older residents
Billings, MT 59105 90%1,116$78,014$349,300$196 larger
Albany, OR 97321 90%1,827$99,416$473,100$267 pricier homes ($115K more)
Camden Wyoming, DE 19934 89%646$87,125$336,300$180 smaller
Ashland, VA 23005 89%644$89,335$402,700$256 pricier homes ($44K more) · 8 min longer commute
Forest, VA 24551 89%612$91,067$362,500$187 Very close on everything we compare
Lynn Haven, FL 32444 89%1,007$83,160$331,000$199 cheaper homes ($28K less) · 6 min longer commute
Pleasant Hill, IA 50327 89%458$98,333$314,400$215 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller
Grand Junction, CO 81505 89%1,242$90,830$467,800$294 pricier homes ($109K more) · smaller
Yakima, WA 98908 89%1,685$84,197$383,900$242 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger

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.