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 Idaho Falls, ID 83401

Idaho Falls: median income $78,497, home value $358,700, $171/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Billings, MT 59105 94%231$78,014$349,300$196 Very close on everything we compare
Goose Creek, SC 29445 91%1,860$81,594$281,500$199 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Ocala, FL 34480 91%1,920$77,557$282,700$184 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller · older residents
Vernal, UT 84078 91%246$75,113$309,000$176 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Portsmouth, VA 23703 90%1,914$78,707$295,900$200 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Concord, NC 28025 89%1,754$79,545$306,800$191 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 6 min longer commute
Louisville, KY 40291 89%1,419$81,267$276,900$170 cheaper homes ($82K less) · older residents
Georgetown, KY 40324 89%1,468$85,110$289,100$184 cheaper homes ($70K less) · newer homes
Mandan, ND 58554 89%580$80,120$277,900$165 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller · older residents
Belton, TX 76513 89%1,168$80,661$289,600$175 cheaper homes ($69K less) · newer homes
Ogden, UT 84405 89%164$84,106$425,100$203 pricier homes ($66K more) · more walkable
Elkton, MD 21921 88%1,868$85,775$330,400$190 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents
Cartersville, GA 30120 88%1,584$86,581$307,000$179 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 5 min longer commute
Batavia, OH 45103 88%1,465$79,793$264,200$182 cheaper homes ($95K less) · older residents
Franklin, IN 46131 88%1,360$85,076$247,700$166 cheaper homes ($111K less)
Bourbonnais, IL 60914 88%1,233$86,223$255,300$175 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller · older residents
Springdale, AR 72762 88%1,065$82,228$303,700$211 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Greeley, CO 80634 88%426$82,742$432,700$190 pricier homes ($74K more) · older residents
Ogden, UT 84404 88%158$85,057$396,800$228 pricier homes ($38K more) · more walkable
Selah, WA 98942 88%473$84,646$382,300$239 smaller
Richmond, VA 23237 87%1,845$79,606$277,100$196 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller
Anderson, SC 29621 87%1,679$74,256$278,400$159 cheaper homes ($80K less) · older residents
Panama City, FL 32404 87%1,712$74,708$273,500$177 cheaper homes ($85K less) · older residents
Hamilton, OH 45011 87%1,439$91,873$293,800$172 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · older residents
Fort Wayne, IN 46835 87%1,374$77,152$210,100$161 cheaper homes ($149K 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.