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 Rainbow, TX 76077

Rainbow: median income $118,705, home value $480,000, $251/sq ft, 12-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Smith River, CA 95567 71%1,594$102,734$373,100$221 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger · younger residents
Tannersville, PA 18372 64%1,375$123,344$322,400$203 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Dufur, OR 97021 64%1,543$89,500$412,600$280 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger
Callaway, MD 20620 63%1,261$165,972$391,300$158 higher income ($47K more) · cheaper homes ($89K less) · 9 min longer commute
Silver Point, TN 38582 63%733$93,333$245,300$266 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($235K less) · larger
Fairfield, VT 05455 60%1,580$110,147$335,800$209 cheaper homes ($144K less) · younger residents · 10 min longer commute
Melrose, NY 12121 60%1,500$100,461$297,400$232 cheaper homes ($183K less) · larger · 11 min longer commute
Port Republic, VA 24471 60%1,143$97,396$395,500$227 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger · younger residents
Llano, CA 93544 60%1,165$89,792$406,500$229 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($74K less) · 14 min longer commute
Custer, WA 98240 60%1,727$110,116$619,700$340 pricier homes ($140K more) · larger · younger residents
Bella Vista, CA 96008 59%1,468$92,313$345,800$233 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($134K less) · older residents
Touchet, WA 99360 59%1,465$93,036$454,500$263 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($26K less) · younger residents
Spangle, WA 99031 58%1,470$98,182$423,500$176 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 14 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Asotin, WA 99402 58%1,401$78,906$339,800$197 lower income ($40K less) · cheaper homes ($140K less) · larger
Laotto, IN 46763 57%930$97,054$270,800$155 cheaper homes ($209K less) · 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Whitewood, SD 57793 57%900$87,351$368,800$219 lower income ($31K less) · cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger
White Post, VA 22663 56%1,192$135,046$378,700$226 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · younger residents
South Beach, OR 97366 56%1,649$85,577$541,400$366 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
Elmira, OR 97437 56%1,605$95,129$517,900$320 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · 16 min longer commute
Skagway, AK 99840 56%2,545$81,136$435,400$324 lower income ($38K less) · cheaper homes ($45K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Woodward, IA 50276 55%693$91,827$289,000$244 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($191K less) · larger
Amana, IA 52203 55%733$101,950$297,100$139 cheaper homes ($183K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Hampton, MN 55031 55%889$114,338$409,800$192 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · 14 min longer commute
Audubon, MN 56511 55%1,012$89,875$401,900$261 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger
Soulsbyville, CA 95372 55%1,330$97,398$408,300$255 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger · 12 min longer commute

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.