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 Dove Creek, CO 81324

Dove Creek: median income $71,630, home value $223,100, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Westport, WA 98595 89%997$66,579$260,400$315 pricier homes ($37K more) · more renters
Saint Germain, WI 54558 87%1,144$59,718$261,000$345 pricier homes ($38K more)
Bayfield, WI 54814 87%1,113$63,682$250,000$268 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Baudette, MN 56623 86%1,041$87,750$232,800$160 larger
North Clarendon, VT 05759 85%1,911$58,150$209,100$199 younger residents
Hot Springs, SD 57747 85%484$68,443$221,000$174 larger · 5 min longer commute
Derby, VT 05829 84%1,953$73,456$216,200$182 9 min longer commute
Thompson Falls, MT 59873 84%754$60,000$305,900$277 pricier homes ($83K more) · larger
Grand Coulee, WA 99133 84%867$68,854$229,900$265 smaller · younger residents · older homes
Republic, WA 99166 84%899$56,676$286,000$233 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Craig, AK 99921 84%1,661$64,250$302,900$257 pricier homes ($80K more) · younger residents
Mc Gregor, IA 52157 83%999$52,625$193,500$130 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Boulder Junction, WI 54512 83%1,142$75,147$294,500$338 pricier homes ($71K more) · more single-family homes
Big Stone City, SD 57216 83%822$88,203$201,300$197 more single-family homes
Lakeview, AR 72642 83%907$68,810$224,100$138 8 min longer commute
North Lima, OH 44452 82%1,519$61,602$256,600$119 pricier homes ($34K more) · 8 min longer commute
North Webster, IN 46555 82%1,257$70,399$203,400$188 younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Hazen, ND 58545 82%758$81,641$202,700$114 larger · younger residents
Crosby, ND 58730 82%818$83,583$157,600$75 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Kenmare, ND 58746 82%831$70,263$149,700$87 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Basin, WY 82410 82%459$68,839$197,300$155 cheaper homes ($26K less) · younger residents
Hagerman, ID 83332 82%470$64,792$226,200$250 10 min longer commute
Milbridge, ME 04658 81%2,162$60,536$240,400$262 younger residents
Ellicottville, NY 14731 81%1,622$67,583$286,800$287 pricier homes ($64K more) · more apartments and townhomes
West Middlesex, PA 16159 81%1,529$69,391$178,000— cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · older homes

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.