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 Alexander, ND 58831

Alexander: median income $98,380, home value $342,100, $300/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Donald, OR 97020 91%927$80,729$351,500$302 Very close on everything we compare
Tangent, OR 97389 82%955$94,909$433,000$295 pricier homes ($91K more) · larger · more renters
Talmo, GA 30575 81%1,394$84,750$269,600$169 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Pala, CA 92059 79%1,216$99,803$561,500$498 pricier homes ($219K more)
Mc Connells, SC 29726 78%1,457$88,750$308,300$228 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Whitewood, SD 57793 78%230$87,351$368,800$219 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · older residents
Seadrift, TX 77983 78%1,390$97,850$292,000$219 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Summit Point, WV 25446 77%1,408$119,853$342,000$310 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Old Monroe, MO 63369 77%888$96,250$339,400$228 larger · 10 min longer commute
Culver, OR 97734 77%870$82,429$346,500$271 larger · 6 min longer commute
North Bonneville, WA 98639 76%878$100,417$445,900$493 pricier homes ($104K more) · older residents · more renters
Pateros, WA 98846 76%755$84,464$338,200$276 more single-family homes · older homes
Tieton, WA 98947 76%804$75,057$243,100$238 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · younger residents
Sheldon, VT 05483 75%1,468$78,505$246,500$211 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger · more homeowners
Cerulean, KY 42215 75%1,104$83,098$201,300— cheaper homes ($141K less) · older residents
Llano, CA 93544 75%1,172$89,792$406,500$229 pricier homes ($64K more) · older residents · older homes
Camden, NC 27921 74%1,606$94,473$341,000$239 larger
Gold Hill, NC 28071 74%1,462$93,354$283,100$239 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Sumterville, FL 33585 74%1,750$83,125$330,600$168 larger · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Woodville, WI 54028 74%576$85,341$269,300$211 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · older homes
Hawk Point, MO 63349 74%874$80,375$250,000$223 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · older residents
Harper, TX 78631 74%1,232$78,560$351,600$247 larger · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Ault, CO 80610 74%500$92,153$424,800$283 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Levant, ME 04456 73%1,652$86,071$268,500$207 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Scotrun, PA 18355 73%1,463$96,364$297,600$190 cheaper homes ($45K less) · more single-family homes · older homes

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.