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 Trout Creek, MT 59874

Trout Creek: median income $64,319, home value $540,100, $428/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Garden Valley, ID 83622 86%257$65,625$576,800$332 pricier homes ($37K more)
Deming, WA 98244 84%308$67,159$447,000$394 cheaper homes ($93K less) · younger residents · older homes
Cle Elum, WA 98922 84%256$73,603$647,600$457 pricier homes ($108K more) · larger
Donnelly, ID 83615 82%219$74,732$731,800$594 pricier homes ($192K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Warwick, MD 21912 81%2,046$69,868$391,700$259 cheaper homes ($148K less) · older homes
Star Tannery, VA 22654 81%1,936$74,721$417,200$296 cheaper homes ($123K less) · smaller · less walkable
Crosslake, MN 56442 81%1,006$79,896$479,800$349 cheaper homes ($60K less) · older residents · older homes
Horseshoe Bend, ID 83629 81%270$72,500$398,000$296 cheaper homes ($142K less) · 6 min longer commute
Lakemont, GA 30552 80%1,878$66,316$354,700$390 cheaper homes ($185K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Merrifield, MN 56465 80%1,007$74,400$372,100$337 cheaper homes ($168K less)
Morganton, GA 30560 79%1,838$66,016$321,300$271 cheaper homes ($219K less) · larger
Whitewater, CO 81527 79%708$76,815$425,600$328 cheaper homes ($115K less) · smaller · less walkable
Merlin, OR 97532 79%529$81,167$445,400$281 cheaper homes ($95K less) · older homes
Warriors Mark, PA 16877 78%1,897$68,500$307,700— cheaper homes ($232K less) · older homes
Saluda, NC 28773 78%1,906$70,703$413,700$319 cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger
Hackensack, MN 56452 78%983$62,941$352,700$300 cheaper homes ($187K less) · older residents
Mokelumne Hill, CA 95245 78%703$84,405$482,000$268 cheaper homes ($58K less) · older homes
Spirit Lake, ID 83869 77%62$67,099$466,000$368 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · younger residents
Lyons, OR 97358 77%397$95,391$491,500$325 higher income ($31K more) · cheaper homes ($49K less)
New Hampton, NH 03256 76%2,109$87,917$382,000$353 cheaper homes ($158K less)
Remer, MN 56672 76%1,009$61,842$274,000$352 cheaper homes ($266K less) · older homes
Norwood, CO 81423 76%764$62,125$425,000$292 cheaper homes ($115K less) · smaller · younger residents
Thayne, WY 83127 76%403$87,743$482,700$325 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Tetonia, ID 83452 76%348$72,083$565,800$602 pricier homes ($26K more) · younger residents
Priest River, ID 83856 76%67$75,285$427,900$333 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger · younger residents

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.