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 Carey, ID 83320

Carey: median income $57,813, home value $245,500, $258/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Nyssa, OR 97913 82%162$55,921$240,600$245 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Riceville, IA 50466 81%1,070$56,728$209,800— cheaper homes ($36K less) · older residents
Mount Victory, OH 43340 80%1,566$72,446$192,900$201 cheaper homes ($53K less) · less walkable
Ethan, SD 57334 79%797$62,167$206,500— cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents
Rebersburg, PA 16872 78%1,862$72,708$199,200— cheaper homes ($46K less)
Stratford, CA 93266 78%582$62,727$291,000$250 pricier homes ($46K more) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Murdock, MN 56271 77%923$64,861$222,700— 9 min shorter commute
Wadley, AL 36276 74%1,679$52,471$195,800$241 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · less walkable
Irondale, OH 43932 74%1,702$54,531$152,000$159 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Sharon, WI 53585 74%1,270$74,779$200,400$229 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older residents
Laton, CA 93242 74%564$73,142$353,000— pricier homes ($108K more) · larger · older residents
Malin, OR 97632 74%392$44,167$273,400$206 pricier homes ($28K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Smithton, PA 15479 73%1,762$63,852$202,700$204 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents
Cabazon, CA 92230 73%665$48,704$270,400$267 more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Knights Landing, CA 95645 73%510$61,652$411,600$236 pricier homes ($166K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Loganville, WI 53943 72%1,195$73,000$225,600— older residents · more homeowners · less walkable
Otis, CO 80743 72%603$67,734$226,300$154 older residents · more homeowners
Buttonwillow, CA 93206 72%620$53,654$225,000$193 more renters
Hoffman, MN 56339 71%906$60,893$221,500$171 older residents · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Gnadenhutten, OH 44629 70%1,673$81,625$159,300$191 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · more homeowners
Dalton, WI 53926 70%1,234$62,917$226,700$385 more homeowners · newer homes
Utica, MN 55979 70%1,096$85,417$279,700$173 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller
Mill City, OR 97360 70%438$67,250$310,100$278 pricier homes ($65K more) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Minotola, NJ 08341 69%2,017$68,830$189,400$191 cheaper homes ($56K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Port Norris, NJ 08349 69%2,018$64,861$153,500$156 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · older residents

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.