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 Paul, ID 83347

Paul: median income $79,643, home value $296,700, $204/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dalton, OH 44618 90%1,651$74,403$248,800$212 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Saint Marys, KS 66536 90%954$85,568$224,600$151 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Ferron, UT 84523 88%282$71,212$229,500$204 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Garland, UT 84312 87%104$83,088$398,400$185 pricier homes ($102K more) · newer homes
Biggs, CA 95917 87%468$90,563$362,800$188 pricier homes ($66K more) · 7 min longer commute
Naches, WA 98937 87%456$77,143$369,300$244 pricier homes ($73K more) · older residents
Apple Creek, OH 44606 86%1,646$76,350$288,000$177 larger
Belgrade, MN 56312 86%953$70,000$249,800$177 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · older residents
Harrah, WA 98933 86%424$75,972$241,400— cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · older residents
Romulus, NY 14541 85%1,862$77,375$232,200$311 cheaper homes ($65K less) · older homes
Bowling Green, VA 22427 85%1,940$81,488$315,700$214 older residents
Farley, IA 52046 85%1,157$96,151$273,600$137 Very close on everything we compare
Fillmore, UT 84631 85%263$67,115$301,000$161 5 min shorter commute
Thatcher, AZ 85552 85%710$88,454$290,900$194 larger · newer homes
Zillah, WA 98953 85%412$84,766$368,300$216 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger · older residents
Sugarcreek, OH 44681 84%1,658$85,769$316,600$194 larger
Howe, IN 46746 84%1,445$73,244$160,800$187 cheaper homes ($136K less)
Epworth, IA 52045 84%1,161$91,667$263,500$141 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Holcomb, KS 67851 84%746$83,906$241,800$235 cheaper homes ($55K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Milford, NE 68405 84%872$75,250$244,600$153 cheaper homes ($52K less) · older residents
Poth, TX 78147 84%1,281$72,404$225,000$187 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller
Delta, UT 84624 84%234$75,469$287,700$161 larger · more homeowners
Christiana, PA 17509 83%1,954$77,238$331,600$215 pricier homes ($35K more) · 8 min longer commute
Anna, OH 45302 83%1,531$91,602$242,300$178 cheaper homes ($54K less) · more homeowners
Burlington, ND 58722 83%714$85,417$275,000$159 smaller · newer 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.