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 Dillon, MT 59725

Dillon: median income $61,335, home value $311,400, $201/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lewisburg, WV 24901 94%1,730$53,403$266,300$193 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Chattanooga, TN 37416 93%1,600$70,705$253,100$193 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Birmingham, AL 35210 91%1,595$73,061$255,800$191 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Saint Peter, MN 56082 91%915$71,456$275,200$169 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Monte Vista, CO 81144 90%627$64,662$234,200$191 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 89%812$70,037$314,700$217 larger
Cortez, CO 81321 89%584$59,506$289,000$217 larger
Conway, NH 03818 88%2,020$77,134$324,800$241 smaller
Tupelo, MS 38804 88%1,473$64,420$219,700$155 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger
Portage, MI 49002 88%1,362$73,647$246,400$174 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Port Washington, WI 53074 88%1,226$79,423$296,600$233 larger
Kimberly, WI 54136 88%1,190$69,495$220,700$183 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Perham, MN 56573 88%824$68,770$286,500$183 Very close on everything we compare
Pocatello, ID 83204 88%165$57,146$263,500$168 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Old Town, ME 04468 87%2,118$56,358$203,700$192 cheaper homes ($108K less)
Danville, PA 17821 87%1,825$76,971$249,500$164 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Lexington, VA 24450 87%1,778$76,587$305,100$225 larger
Sylva, NC 28779 87%1,683$57,727$243,700$232 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Greenwood, SC 29649 87%1,775$54,585$235,100$168 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger
Northport, AL 35473 87%1,565$69,657$272,800$168 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · newer homes
Opelika, AL 36801 87%1,692$62,414$234,600$188 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger
Nashville, TN 37218 87%1,479$61,919$349,900$261 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Chattanooga, TN 37415 87%1,594$70,972$285,000$216 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Haslett, MI 48840 87%1,407$73,408$280,900$184 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Williamsburg, IA 52361 87%1,061$60,992$211,200$145 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller

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.