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 59808

Missoula: median income $80,239, home value $460,900, $337/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arden, NC 28704 88%1,805$81,096$390,000$273 cheaper homes ($71K less) · older residents
Sandy, UT 84070 86%455$78,991$461,900$273 5 min longer commute · older homes
Flagstaff, AZ 86004 86%822$81,172$509,900$381 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · older homes
Sioux Falls, SD 57110 85%878$88,955$396,100$206 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Beaverton, OR 97003 85%432$99,072$478,300$313 5 min longer commute · older homes
Bend, OR 97701 85%403$87,739$626,100$342 pricier homes ($165K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Wilmington, NC 28405 84%2,068$70,274$368,500$257 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger
Vancouver, WA 98684 84%414$90,620$459,200$303 larger · 5 min longer commute
Panama City Beach, FL 32407 83%1,898$80,831$404,200$235 cheaper homes ($57K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Tampa, FL 33616 83%2,152$93,210$405,500$278 cheaper homes ($55K less) · 7 min longer commute
Saint George, UT 84770 83%683$70,024$458,300$269 larger
Chico, CA 95973 83%631$92,813$489,900$313 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · less walkable
Wilmington, NC 28412 82%2,070$71,636$371,900$240 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger · older residents
Madison, WI 53718 82%1,234$102,843$363,600$227 cheaper homes ($97K less)
North Salt Lake, UT 84054 82%437$101,860$505,500$265 pricier homes ($45K more)
Las Vegas, NV 89113 82%755$94,461$480,900$263 larger · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Asheville, NC 28803 81%1,803$76,662$452,900$306 older residents
Jacksonville, FL 32224 81%2,081$88,259$458,100$265 larger · 5 min longer commute
Kansas City, MO 64154 81%1,111$86,213$355,700$205 cheaper homes ($105K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 80%2,080$89,185$452,700$340 older residents · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Jacksonville, FL 32246 80%2,078$80,963$312,900$222 cheaper homes ($148K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Chandler, AZ 85224 80%950$94,516$438,700$298 larger · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Tempe, AZ 85283 80%947$84,568$442,800$298 larger · older homes
Santa Fe, NM 87507 80%886$70,398$363,000$321 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · older residents
Oak Harbor, WA 98277 80%409$83,253$499,600$317 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · more single-family 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.