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 Homedale, ID 83628

Homedale: median income $68,854, home value $323,100, $277/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rush City, MN 55069 90%1,183$75,179$281,700$240 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents
Mill City, OR 97360 90%285$67,250$310,100$278 smaller
Winchendon, MA 01475 89%2,236$76,552$323,800$251 larger
Pierson, FL 32180 89%2,188$77,394$310,300$219 Very close on everything we compare
Willamina, OR 97396 89%339$57,614$351,000$245 pricier homes ($28K more) · older residents
Mechanic Falls, ME 04256 88%2,288$69,914$270,900$213 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Culver, OR 97734 88%221$82,429$346,500$271 newer homes
Lincoln, DE 19960 87%2,161$67,200$275,700$258 cheaper homes ($47K less) · newer homes
Strasburg, VA 22657 87%2,011$63,975$304,900$218 larger
Olathe, CO 81425 87%580$73,682$343,400$306 5 min shorter commute
Live Oak, CA 95953 87%388$74,786$376,900$265 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Mccleary, WA 98557 87%387$78,594$369,300$278 pricier homes ($46K more)
Enosburg Falls, VT 05450 86%2,160$72,875$271,800$203 cheaper homes ($51K less) · older residents
Quarryville, PA 17566 86%2,097$78,108$306,200$233 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Denton, MD 21629 86%2,139$73,956$334,200$188 larger
Timberville, VA 22853 86%1,998$67,083$245,800$248 cheaper homes ($77K less) · older residents
Mill Spring, NC 28756 86%1,926$63,663$277,600$330 cheaper homes ($46K less) · newer homes
Lisbon Falls, ME 04252 85%2,305$73,476$258,500$236 cheaper homes ($65K less) · older residents · older homes
Ronks, PA 17572 85%2,093$80,804$288,800$237 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older homes
Stanfield, NC 28163 85%2,015$72,386$313,900$195 Very close on everything we compare
Hartsville, TN 37074 85%1,692$71,914$329,600$214 larger
Woodbury, TN 37190 85%1,717$64,792$274,200$212 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Arlee, MT 59821 85%283$66,458$375,200$312 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller
Norwood, MO 65717 85%1,363$61,146$207,000$293 cheaper homes ($116K less) · smaller
La Verkin, UT 84745 85%482$68,269$393,300$236 pricier homes ($70K more) · 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.