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 Walker, MN 56484

Walker: median income $67,019, home value $311,200, $272/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Maggie Valley, NC 28751 96%995$69,057$313,500$292 Very close on everything we compare
Minocqua, WI 54548 93%244$69,569$336,400$288 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Grandy, NC 27939 92%1,217$62,463$306,100$247 younger residents
Llano, TX 78643 92%1,151$68,365$362,600$239 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger
Renfrew, PA 16053 91%844$76,054$297,500$218 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, NC 28722 91%1,038$67,760$307,300$225 larger
Bokeelia, FL 33922 91%1,565$71,164$355,800$269 pricier homes ($45K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Townsend, TN 37882 91%966$69,012$344,500$315 pricier homes ($33K more)
Rocky Mount, MO 65072 91%615$78,750$335,700$286 smaller
Hancock, ME 04640 90%1,275$71,699$269,100$292 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 5 min longer commute
Hiawassee, GA 30546 90%1,012$59,234$295,000$248 larger
Paradise, CA 95969 90%1,439$69,067$455,500$287 pricier homes ($144K more) · larger
Bethel, ME 04217 89%1,157$61,125$329,700$274 younger residents
Hayesville, NC 28904 89%1,002$56,480$284,500$234 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Panacea, FL 32346 89%1,299$61,700$267,200$257 cheaper homes ($44K less)
White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645 89%777$77,241$287,800$300 smaller
Gravois Mills, MO 65037 89%617$66,360$284,100$256 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Mackay, ID 83251 89%945$73,482$366,900$286 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller
Hagerman, ID 83332 89%1,032$64,792$226,200$250 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Bracey, VA 23919 88%1,113$66,750$300,000$203 more apartments and townhomes
Arapahoe, NC 28510 88%1,241$58,839$264,100$240 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Beaufort, NC 28516 88%1,261$66,057$315,400$270 larger
Morganton, GA 30560 88%1,001$66,016$321,300$271 5 min longer commute
Port Saint Joe, FL 32456 88%1,293$64,681$378,500$285 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Plains, MT 59859 88%950$64,846$429,200$278 pricier homes ($118K more) · 6 min shorter 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.