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 Durango, CO 81303

Durango: median income $88,103, home value $597,300, $403/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbia Falls, MT 59912 90%839$76,617$488,800$399 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger
Ferndale, WA 98248 89%1,097$91,060$589,600$373 larger
Driggs, ID 83422 88%487$96,530$548,600$486 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Mount Vernon, WA 98274 86%1,058$96,177$547,700$360 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Belgrade, MT 59714 85%622$96,183$548,600$316 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Manteo, NC 27954 84%1,783$80,587$418,400$374 cheaper homes ($179K less)
Manhattan, MT 59741 84%625$90,947$615,200$382 smaller · more single-family homes
Lolo, MT 59847 84%738$86,620$449,600$342 cheaper homes ($148K less) · smaller · younger residents
Moab, UT 84532 84%134$68,444$549,400$392 cheaper homes ($48K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Blaine, WA 98230 84%1,106$86,623$499,800$316 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · older residents
Olympia, WA 98512 84%1,029$101,530$472,100$316 cheaper homes ($125K less) · larger
Bellingham, WA 98226 82%1,089$79,375$607,600$376 larger
Lynden, WA 98264 82%1,096$103,638$609,100$341 larger
Spokane, WA 99224 82%876$80,770$461,000$247 cheaper homes ($136K less) · larger
Saco, ME 04072 81%2,003$92,241$413,100$329 cheaper homes ($184K less) · larger · older residents
Waikoloa, HI 96738 81%3,103$80,928$813,800$637 pricier homes ($217K more)
Bellingham, WA 98229 81%1,083$90,945$633,500$390 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Rathdrum, ID 83858 80%869$95,380$507,600$341 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Sandpoint, ID 83864 80%888$70,496$516,500$381 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger · older residents
Chico, CA 95973 80%778$92,813$489,900$313 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger
Beaverton, OR 97078 80%962$90,606$478,800$318 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger · older homes
Burlington, WA 98233 80%1,070$87,614$502,100$348 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · more renters
Olympia, WA 98516 80%1,026$98,892$572,500$322 larger · more walkable
Manson, WA 98831 80%969$82,650$659,500$341 pricier homes ($62K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Manchester, NH 03109 79%1,955$108,144$387,900$305 cheaper homes ($209K 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.