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 Mountain View, WY 82939

Mountain View: median income $98,171, home value $266,700, $172/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Pierre, IN 46374 94%1,216$91,250$226,900$132 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Hebron, IL 60034 92%1,128$87,188$254,200$177 Very close on everything we compare
Seneca, IL 61360 92%1,125$95,093$258,200$147 larger
Watkins, MN 55389 91%847$96,786$273,700$251 larger
Morrisville, MO 65710 90%938$77,865$231,000— cheaper homes ($36K less)
Georgetown, PA 15043 89%1,552$87,672$234,700$198 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Scotrun, PA 18355 89%1,809$96,364$297,600$190 pricier homes ($31K more)
Prosperity, PA 15329 88%1,572$92,917$237,500— cheaper homes ($29K less)
Newburg, PA 17240 88%1,709$91,429$256,300$175 larger
Quantico, MD 21856 88%1,833$88,045$380,600$177 pricier homes ($114K more)
Baldwin, GA 30511 88%1,531$88,432$224,100$171 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Clear Lake, WI 54005 88%948$87,813$274,300$206 larger
Royalton, MN 56373 88%866$91,192$302,900$165 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Colton, SD 57018 88%703$97,500$252,700$146 older homes
Belfield, ND 58622 88%526$82,692$239,000$140 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Ray, ND 58849 88%602$82,250$269,800$136 Very close on everything we compare
Pocahontas, IL 62275 88%1,112$85,000$209,400$166 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Hawk Point, MO 63349 88%1,025$80,375$250,000$223 Very close on everything we compare
Archie, MO 64725 88%867$84,722$232,100$180 cheaper homes ($35K less) · younger residents
Richfield, ID 83349 88%232$70,795$230,300$175 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($36K less)
Glennallen, AK 99588 88%2,044$110,136$290,600$148 Very close on everything we compare
Shellsburg, IA 52332 87%953$92,708$198,000$155 cheaper homes ($69K less) · more homeowners
Iron Ridge, WI 53035 87%1,120$102,449$299,100$205 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Powers Lake, ND 58773 87%634$103,750$262,500— older homes
Kirkland, IL 60146 87%1,107$88,032$222,000$181 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger

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.