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 Thompson Falls, MT 59873

Thompson Falls: median income $60,000, home value $305,900, $277/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Germain, WI 54558 92%1,224$59,718$261,000$345 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Gold Beach, OR 97444 89%569$64,920$402,700$296 pricier homes ($97K more) · larger
Chincoteague Island, VA 23336 87%2,109$63,464$346,700$288 pricier homes ($41K more)
Council, ID 83612 87%203$54,810$309,600$257 more single-family homes · older homes
Fort Davis, TX 79734 86%1,321$65,227$241,300— cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Republic, WA 99166 86%171$56,676$286,000$233 younger residents
Center Conway, NH 03813 85%2,119$56,951$252,200$330 cheaper homes ($54K less) · 6 min longer commute
Greenville, ME 04441 85%2,149$64,789$291,900$361 smaller · more single-family homes
Crawford, CO 81415 85%728$59,141$330,900$333 pricier homes ($25K more) · 6 min longer commute
Raphine, VA 24472 84%1,930$51,429$251,000$268 cheaper homes ($55K less) · 8 min longer commute
Penrose, NC 28766 84%1,880$57,708$307,000$252 smaller · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Lake Tomahawk, WI 54539 84%1,222$62,841$282,200$246 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Phelps, WI 54554 84%1,241$63,750$247,300$289 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Bayfield, WI 54814 84%1,148$63,682$250,000$268 cheaper homes ($56K less) · younger residents
Dove Creek, CO 81324 84%754$71,630$223,100— cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller
Lakeside, OR 97449 84%508$66,000$316,700$272 10 min longer commute
Hiawassee, GA 30546 83%1,845$59,234$295,000$248 larger · 9 min longer commute
Port Saint Joe, FL 32456 83%2,013$64,681$378,500$285 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · newer homes
Walker, MN 56484 83%970$67,019$311,200$272 9 min longer commute
Gravois Mills, MO 65037 83%1,303$66,360$284,100$256 larger · 10 min longer commute
Lampe, MO 65681 83%1,350$57,548$214,800$228 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Mackay, ID 83251 83%269$73,482$366,900$286 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Hagerman, ID 83332 83%332$64,792$226,200$250 cheaper homes ($80K less) · 9 min longer commute
Ahwahnee, CA 93601 83%738$76,555$434,900$241 pricier homes ($129K more) · smaller
Rockaway Beach, OR 97136 83%430$66,106$375,000$372 pricier homes ($69K more)

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.