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 Lapwai, ID 83540

Lapwai: median income $62,963, home value $205,100, $256/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Montezuma, KS 67867 95%1,033$67,000$186,900$232 Very close on everything we compare
Broadus, MT 59317 93%560$71,250$197,400— smaller
Searsport, ME 04974 91%2,288$64,303$224,400$290 7 min longer commute
Leroy, AL 36548 90%1,844$78,676$202,700— smaller
Rockford, TN 37853 90%1,843$69,075$221,500$284 larger · 7 min longer commute
Covington, PA 16917 89%1,976$62,321$156,600$187 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Wray, CO 80758 89%845$58,929$234,000$181 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Tonasket, WA 98855 89%200$60,179$257,800$209 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Warroad, MN 56763 88%1,009$65,000$192,000$177 larger
Harvey, ND 58341 88%805$61,641$139,000$246 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Salina, UT 84654 88%572$64,015$287,500$186 pricier homes ($82K more)
Texico, NM 88135 88%1,097$70,417$145,000— cheaper homes ($60K less)
Jonesport, ME 04649 87%2,347$67,500$142,000$225 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Jackson Center, OH 45334 87%1,681$70,595$196,800$156 Very close on everything we compare
Cherokee, NC 28719 86%1,884$60,658$188,400— larger
Smithville, OH 44677 86%1,773$75,435$230,600$247 pricier homes ($26K more) · older homes
Dover Foxcroft, ME 04426 85%2,259$63,491$164,800$162 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Melfa, VA 23410 85%2,165$54,050$195,100$193 older residents · 5 min longer commute
Pine Level, NC 27568 85%2,123$66,071$230,800— pricier homes ($26K more) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Rickman, TN 38580 85%1,762$70,081$246,100$208 pricier homes ($41K more) · newer homes
Inverness, MS 38753 85%1,644$59,000$159,300— cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Brimley, MI 49715 85%1,519$63,494$163,200$237 cheaper homes ($42K less) · more homeowners
Crandon, WI 54520 85%1,333$60,031$169,800$221 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Malta, MT 59538 85%440$57,097$191,800— more walkable
Ronan, MT 59864 85%149$61,978$297,700$274 pricier homes ($93K more) · 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.