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 Missoula, MT 59804

Missoula: median income $76,266, home value $588,400, $351/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake Placid, NY 12946 88%1,931$77,548$467,000$363 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller · less walkable
Boise, ID 83703 88%242$76,910$508,000$353 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Asheville, NC 28805 86%1,804$75,151$412,500$281 cheaper homes ($176K less) · larger
Salida, CO 81201 85%708$80,248$674,000$428 pricier homes ($86K more)
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 85%136$74,782$589,600$419 larger
Carson City, NV 89703 85%601$85,230$626,500$330 pricier homes ($38K more) · older residents
Traverse City, MI 49684 84%1,374$80,788$420,200$332 cheaper homes ($168K less) · larger · less walkable
Hood River, OR 97031 84%361$91,858$691,200$409 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger · younger residents
Philomath, OR 97370 84%472$88,091$463,200$279 cheaper homes ($125K less) · more homeowners
Talent, OR 97540 84%530$65,762$453,900$286 cheaper homes ($135K less) · newer homes
Grass Valley, CA 95945 83%630$65,989$539,500$336 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Middletown, RI 02842 82%2,130$101,948$563,300$392 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Moab, UT 84532 82%618$68,444$549,400$392 cheaper homes ($39K less) · younger residents · less walkable
Seaside, OR 97138 82%468$60,411$483,800$387 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Olympia, WA 98506 82%410$91,596$490,900$298 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Chelan, WA 98816 82%283$82,577$499,200$421 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Kittery, ME 03904 81%2,111$85,084$448,900$448 cheaper homes ($140K less) · less walkable
Colorado Springs, CO 80904 81%725$69,814$440,000$264 cheaper homes ($148K less) · larger
Albuquerque, NM 87104 81%900$75,436$362,500$273 cheaper homes ($226K less) · larger · younger residents
Bishop, CA 93514 81%681$81,278$422,600$349 cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger · less walkable
Mckinleyville, CA 95519 81%639$73,280$469,400$317 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger · newer homes
Manchester Center, VT 05255 80%2,002$91,058$445,500$270 cheaper homes ($143K less) · smaller · older residents
Asheville, NC 28804 80%1,799$88,312$566,000$324 larger
Metairie, LA 70005 80%1,733$89,194$430,200$249 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger
Grand Junction, CO 81506 80%605$78,651$448,300$263 cheaper homes ($140K less) · older residents · less walkable

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.