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 Gardiner, MT 59030

Gardiner: median income $56,542, home value $593,000, $812/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Southwest Harbor, ME 04679 73%2,052$59,205$428,500$456 cheaper homes ($165K less) · larger
Santa Margarita, CA 93453 71%843$78,288$710,000$721 pricier homes ($117K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Cannon Beach, OR 97110 67%650$68,500$790,400$624 pricier homes ($197K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Damariscotta, ME 04543 62%2,001$59,423$363,500$431 cheaper homes ($230K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Blowing Rock, NC 28605 57%1,625$76,477$552,400$507 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · younger residents
Stateline, NV 89449 57%638$83,988$1,065,700$627 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($473K more) · larger
Okoboji, IA 51355 55%772$72,262$421,100$340 cheaper homes ($172K less) · more homeowners · more walkable
Sister Bay, WI 54234 55%1,139$74,583$456,300$339 cheaper homes ($137K less) · larger · older residents
Granby, CO 80446 55%419$74,973$642,600$439 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · younger residents
Hana, HI 96713 55%3,070$54,375$704,700$878 pricier homes ($112K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Lake Placid, NY 12946 54%1,783$77,548$467,000$363 cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger · younger residents
Twisp, WA 98856 54%506$70,089$484,600$320 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger · younger residents
Ludlow, VT 05149 53%1,861$64,191$365,300$300 cheaper homes ($228K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Highlands, NC 28741 53%1,593$70,392$631,000$625 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · older residents
Winter Park, CO 80482 53%434$65,137$775,300$729 pricier homes ($182K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Joseph, OR 97846 53%324$71,471$383,200$341 cheaper homes ($210K less) · larger · more homeowners
Winthrop, WA 98862 53%511$71,080$720,200$447 pricier homes ($127K more) · larger · more homeowners
Cashiers, NC 28717 52%1,598$76,085$440,000$615 cheaper homes ($153K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Summerland, CA 93067 52%878$71,134$1,716,500— pricier homes ($1124K more) · older homes
Yachats, OR 97498 52%665$67,188$511,500$405 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · older residents
Halfway, OR 97834 52%320$43,889$366,300— cheaper homes ($227K less) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Waimea, HI 96796 51%3,184$89,205$769,700$627 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($177K more) · larger
Tavernier, FL 33070 50%2,172$75,436$732,800$797 pricier homes ($140K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Baileys Harbor, WI 54202 50%1,138$73,784$432,200$406 cheaper homes ($161K less) · larger · more homeowners
Durham, CA 95938 50%685$82,974$611,700$368 higher income ($26K more) · larger · younger 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.