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 Norwood, CO 81423

Norwood: median income $62,125, home value $425,000, $292/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oak Run, CA 96069 90%755$71,250$381,900$239 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Bethel, ME 04217 89%1,977$61,125$329,700$274 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger
Graford, TX 76449 89%664$72,813$398,700$299 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Casco, ME 04015 88%1,991$69,313$355,500$316 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Moncure, NC 27559 88%1,616$74,490$385,000$233 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Cascade, MT 59421 88%658$78,125$377,900$267 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Worley, ID 83876 88%777$60,729$536,700$411 pricier homes ($112K more)
Hampshire, TN 38461 87%1,169$66,406$418,300$256 less walkable
Charlo, MT 59824 87%710$53,382$317,800$247 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Cascade Locks, OR 97014 87%870$75,000$387,700$246 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Cove, OR 97824 87%699$80,263$413,700$267 larger
Loon Lake, WA 99148 87%833$67,431$429,900$336 larger · 6 min longer commute
Waterford, ME 04088 86%1,981$63,750$276,800$329 cheaper homes ($148K less)
Worton, MD 21678 86%1,728$71,023$319,000$266 cheaper homes ($106K less) · more single-family homes
Alberton, MT 59820 86%689$69,091$367,400$285 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · younger residents
Idaho City, ID 83631 86%555$80,714$409,800$264 larger · younger residents
Townsend, MT 59644 85%591$68,811$361,500$300 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Superior, MT 59872 85%710$55,926$396,600$387 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Rocky Mount, MO 65072 85%845$78,750$335,700$286 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger · older residents
Cathlamet, WA 98612 85%951$59,583$429,600$318 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Effingham, NH 03882 84%1,969$76,607$322,700$294 cheaper homes ($102K less) · larger
Penobscot, ME 04476 84%2,080$63,194$296,400$280 cheaper homes ($129K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Hancock, ME 04640 84%2,103$71,699$269,100$292 cheaper homes ($156K less) · larger
Darby, MT 59829 84%625$63,650$437,900$315 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Lyle, WA 98635 84%848$61,448$491,900$270 pricier homes ($67K more) · 7 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.