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 Choteau, MT 59422

Choteau: median income $67,500, home value $256,500, $184/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Canadian, TX 79014 94%1,022$62,273$204,300$153 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Wray, CO 80758 93%724$58,929$234,000$181 Very close on everything we compare
Milford, IA 51351 92%879$73,824$273,100$184 larger
Alturas, CA 96101 92%600$61,680$211,200$156 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Harborcreek, PA 16421 91%1,611$64,091$224,200$184 cheaper homes ($32K less) · older residents
Archbold, OH 43502 91%1,429$74,925$203,300$177 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Sloan, IA 51055 91%868$72,143$218,300$156 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Olivia, MN 56277 91%847$70,326$184,500$133 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Thermopolis, WY 82443 91%335$62,767$230,000$141 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Okanogan, WA 98840 91%343$57,342$261,600$145 larger
Parsonsburg, MD 21849 90%1,943$71,211$249,200$213 Very close on everything we compare
Snow Hill, MD 21863 90%1,953$61,975$263,600$180 larger
Smithville, OH 44677 90%1,563$75,435$230,600$247 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Bridgman, MI 49106 90%1,313$72,500$262,400$206 larger · 6 min longer commute
Mayville, WI 53050 90%1,176$71,985$210,600$170 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Viroqua, WI 54665 90%1,066$72,093$228,200$193 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Luverne, MN 56156 90%821$71,066$232,300$133 larger
Monte Vista, CO 81144 90%773$64,662$234,200$191 larger · younger residents
Salina, UT 84654 90%614$64,015$287,500$186 pricier homes ($31K more) · younger residents
Etna, CA 96027 90%690$64,308$312,700$236 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller · older residents
Coulee Dam, WA 99116 90%312$65,946$238,900$165 smaller · younger residents
Hurleyville, NY 12747 89%1,868$71,563$336,900$141 pricier homes ($80K more)
Hildebran, NC 28637 89%1,777$67,500$197,900$185 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Loudonville, OH 44842 89%1,553$72,737$206,700$156 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
New Bremen, OH 45869 89%1,461$88,277$249,700$183 Very close on everything we compare

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.