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 Sanford, CO 81151

Sanford: median income $43,417, home value $188,500, $147/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lecompte, LA 71346 94%880$48,240$173,800— Very close on everything we compare
Columbia Falls, ME 04623 90%2,035$50,163$180,600$138 Very close on everything we compare
Blackduck, MN 56630 90%926$50,333$176,900$110 Very close on everything we compare
Depew, OK 74028 90%533$46,500$179,100$153 Very close on everything we compare
Cove City, NC 28523 88%1,595$45,452$158,600$118 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Quincy, FL 32352 88%1,301$42,500$174,900$177 larger
Abbeville, MS 38601 88%940$47,941$190,000$147 Very close on everything we compare
Harned, KY 40144 87%1,067$41,711$218,000— pricier homes ($30K more) · more homeowners · newer homes
Hardin, KY 42048 87%972$55,714$138,800$134 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Welling, OK 74471 87%620$45,948$156,700$178 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Conway, NC 27820 86%1,580$50,909$130,500$123 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Newton Grove, NC 28366 86%1,536$53,310$152,400$139 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Butler, AL 36904 86%1,065$44,250$143,900— cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Climax, GA 39834 86%1,301$47,708$153,900— cheaper homes ($35K less)
Cameron, OK 74932 86%652$50,750$201,700$157 Very close on everything we compare
Goodrich, TX 77335 86%777$53,300$171,600$154 more single-family homes
Richmondville, NY 12149 85%1,691$50,608$169,500$219 older residents
Independence, WV 26374 85%1,413$57,321$162,300$145 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Macclesfield, NC 27852 85%1,566$55,921$142,100$151 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Godwin, NC 28344 85%1,520$48,737$187,300$140 larger
Livermore, KY 42352 85%1,030$53,750$143,000$153 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Racine, OH 45771 85%1,305$43,750$148,200$138 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Pattonsburg, MO 64670 85%663$52,083$177,400— smaller
Sheldon, MO 64784 85%639$53,654$165,700$114 Very close on everything we compare
Mangham, LA 71259 85%869$58,958$145,300$142 cheaper homes ($43K less)

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.