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 Ashton, ID 83420

Ashton: median income $69,286, home value $337,700, $228/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
East New Market, MD 21631 95%1,864$73,864$306,700$198 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Woodruff, WI 54568 92%1,067$72,589$281,000$223 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Etna, CA 96027 92%614$64,308$312,700$236 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Boothbay, ME 04537 90%2,056$76,667$358,600$296 smaller
Pine Bluffs, WY 82082 89%422$69,347$354,000$159 Very close on everything we compare
Wallowa, OR 97885 89%318$76,645$402,900$234 pricier homes ($65K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Bernardston, MA 01337 88%1,936$85,045$338,800$233 6 min longer commute
Northfield, CT 06778 88%1,930$81,375$321,600$230 smaller
Brant Lake, NY 12815 88%1,862$76,302$287,500$299 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
State Road, NC 28676 88%1,687$60,833$242,600$191 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Milbridge, ME 04658 87%2,128$60,536$240,400$262 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller
Craryville, NY 12521 87%1,893$75,652$338,700$290 8 min longer commute
Otto, NC 28763 87%1,608$72,269$287,800$240 cheaper homes ($50K less) · younger residents
Three Oaks, MI 49128 87%1,260$67,398$258,300$192 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Shell Lake, WI 54871 87%958$69,342$241,000$163 cheaper homes ($97K less) · 5 min longer commute
Saint Regis, MT 59866 87%292$73,462$343,700$304 smaller
Buffalo, WY 82834 87%235$63,395$328,700$222 larger
Bay City, OR 97107 87%619$70,417$407,400$306 pricier homes ($70K more)
Deer Isle, ME 04627 86%2,097$61,703$299,500$278 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 5 min longer commute
Schroon Lake, NY 12870 86%1,857$72,628$268,700$382 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Accident, MD 21520 86%1,670$59,852$298,600$236 cheaper homes ($39K less) · younger residents
Baroda, MI 49101 86%1,264$75,048$252,100$164 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Big Timber, MT 59011 86%144$78,000$328,100$211 8 min longer commute
Paonia, CO 81428 86%407$75,799$432,700$279 pricier homes ($95K more)
Asotin, WA 99402 86%309$78,906$339,800$197 smaller

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.