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 Powell, WY 82435

Powell: median income $67,534, home value $362,700, $233/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Swannanoa, NC 28778 95%1,520$73,408$303,300$256 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Grand Junction, CO 81503 93%396$75,053$352,100$274 Very close on everything we compare
Sturgis, SD 57785 92%268$63,897$296,100$221 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 91%638$70,037$314,700$217 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Mary Esther, FL 32569 89%1,553$77,718$326,000$215 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Buhl, ID 83316 89%335$69,593$310,300$240 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Madison, GA 30650 88%1,550$71,599$336,400$197 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Birmingham, AL 35210 88%1,408$73,061$255,800$191 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Preston, ID 83263 88%239$62,500$379,600$252 Very close on everything we compare
Oakhurst, CA 93644 88%762$81,196$396,300$250 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · older residents
Homer, AK 99603 88%2,021$78,767$373,500$310 Very close on everything we compare
Soldotna, AK 99669 88%2,031$80,980$320,200$269 cheaper homes ($43K less) · newer homes
Swanton, VT 05488 87%1,733$77,154$288,700$225 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Nashville, TN 37218 87%1,289$61,919$349,900$261 more renters
Alcoa, TN 37701 87%1,439$66,132$281,100$252 cheaper homes ($82K less) · younger residents
Louisville, TN 37777 87%1,436$75,648$345,600$244 more apartments and townhomes
Traverse City, MI 49685 87%1,134$84,590$358,500$261 larger · newer homes
Sheboygan, WI 53083 87%1,038$75,203$244,800$188 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger
Alexandria, MN 56308 87%655$78,177$341,900$194 larger
East Helena, MT 59635 87%197$83,740$395,600$277 pricier homes ($33K more) · 6 min longer commute
Polson, MT 59860 87%327$62,047$441,500$309 pricier homes ($79K more) · older residents
Luling, LA 70070 87%1,433$76,539$273,800$172 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Meeker, CO 81641 87%329$63,070$329,700$174 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Colville, WA 99114 87%505$62,711$301,600$225 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Kenai, AK 99611 87%2,037$79,757$308,500$245 cheaper homes ($54K 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.