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 Elbert, CO 80106

Elbert: median income $136,852, home value $748,800, $295/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chester, NH 03036 92%1,746$142,212$552,300$298 cheaper homes ($197K less)
Grant, FL 32949 92%1,579$130,651$580,600$250 cheaper homes ($168K less) · older residents
Cool, CA 95614 92%880$133,426$584,600$262 cheaper homes ($164K less)
Rescue, CA 95672 91%882$146,769$767,400$331 Very close on everything we compare
Dunbarton, NH 03046 88%1,727$124,348$484,100$272 cheaper homes ($265K less)
Dighton, MA 02715 86%1,757$140,066$489,900$391 cheaper homes ($259K less)
East Kingston, NH 03827 86%1,759$142,794$600,500$273 cheaper homes ($148K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Queenstown, MD 21658 86%1,519$128,274$483,200$300 cheaper homes ($266K less)
Sparks, NV 89441 86%808$131,616$642,900$317 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger · younger residents
Valleyford, WA 99036 86%862$121,518$647,300$262 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller
Rochester, MA 02770 85%1,772$120,320$601,200$348 cheaper homes ($148K less) · younger residents
Jamul, CA 91935 85%814$151,538$902,400$451 pricier homes ($154K more) · larger
Sloughhouse, CA 95683 85%889$140,457$718,900$309 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents
Bluemont, VA 20135 84%1,428$114,219$573,500$347 cheaper homes ($175K less) · older homes
Port Republic, MD 20676 84%1,505$156,657$509,900$270 cheaper homes ($239K less) · younger residents
New River, AZ 85087 84%551$138,566$552,300$274 cheaper homes ($197K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Ravensdale, WA 98051 84%1,038$136,439$790,500$444 pricier homes ($42K more) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Longbranch, WA 98351 84%1,070$151,660$752,100$415 smaller
Amissville, VA 20106 83%1,423$108,469$521,900$281 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($227K less)
Harwood, MD 20776 83%1,496$149,300$616,000$228 cheaper homes ($133K less) · more apartments and townhomes
West Palm Beach, FL 33412 83%1,638$130,225$643,800$379 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger
Newman Lake, WA 99025 83%863$118,712$517,100$251 cheaper homes ($232K less)
Plympton, MA 02367 82%1,773$126,736$517,800$380 cheaper homes ($231K less) · smaller · older homes
Newton, NH 03858 82%1,757$138,487$459,500$290 cheaper homes ($289K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Hubertus, WI 53033 82%895$136,786$476,900$280 cheaper homes ($272K less) · 5 min shorter 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.