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 McCall, ID 83638

McCall: median income $75,217, home value $730,400, $484/sq ft, 13-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Whitefish, MT 59937 88%256$75,428$698,200$567 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Salida, CO 81201 86%680$80,248$674,000$428 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Buena Vista, CO 81211 85%660$88,083$677,400$409 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 6 min longer commute
Manhattan, MT 59741 84%240$90,947$615,200$382 cheaper homes ($115K less) · 7 min longer commute
Moab, UT 84532 82%552$68,444$549,400$392 cheaper homes ($181K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Friday Harbor, WA 98250 82%417$88,556$801,200$492 pricier homes ($71K more) · older residents
Twisp, WA 98856 81%307$70,089$484,600$320 cheaper homes ($246K less) · smaller
Manson, WA 98831 80%284$82,650$659,500$341 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller
Blowing Rock, NC 28605 79%1,888$76,477$552,400$507 cheaper homes ($178K less) · smaller · 9 min longer commute
Ivins, UT 84738 79%547$77,993$592,900$344 cheaper homes ($138K less) · older residents · newer homes
Manteo, NC 27954 77%2,190$80,587$418,400$374 cheaper homes ($312K less) · 7 min longer commute
Eastsound, WA 98245 77%416$95,811$772,600$590 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · older residents
Durham, CA 95938 76%466$82,974$611,700$368 cheaper homes ($119K less) · smaller · more renters
Mount Hood Parkdale, OR 97041 76%272$82,679$705,600$416 smaller · 7 min longer commute
South Beach, OR 97366 76%392$85,577$541,400$366 cheaper homes ($189K less) · smaller
Homer, AK 99603 75%1,767$78,767$373,500$310 cheaper homes ($357K less) · larger
Lake Placid, NY 12946 74%2,048$77,548$467,000$363 cheaper homes ($263K less) · smaller · more renters
Columbia Falls, MT 59912 74%256$76,617$488,800$399 cheaper homes ($242K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Granby, CO 80446 74%614$74,973$642,600$439 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller · more renters
White Salmon, WA 98672 74%269$97,622$669,200$415 cheaper homes ($61K less) · 12 min longer commute
Estes Park, CO 80517 73%621$95,404$701,700$415 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 73%706$84,270$486,000$342 cheaper homes ($244K less) · larger · older residents
Montrose, CO 81403 73%616$80,893$515,300$311 cheaper homes ($215K less) · larger · older residents
Durango, CO 81303 72%686$88,103$597,300$403 cheaper homes ($133K less) · 8 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Grand Junction, CO 81505 72%554$90,830$467,800$294 cheaper homes ($263K less) · 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.