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 Melba, ID 83641

Melba: median income $84,730, home value $425,700, $296/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cross Plains, TN 37049 95%1,641$90,048$368,800$315 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Platteville, CO 80651 94%643$81,586$474,700$277 pricier homes ($49K more)
Woodford, VA 22580 93%2,061$93,603$353,800$248 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Goochland, VA 23063 93%2,041$81,553$363,200$255 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Chapmansboro, TN 37035 93%1,624$94,068$325,100$243 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Entiat, WA 98822 93%349$86,103$383,600$340 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · older homes
Holtwood, PA 17532 92%2,073$84,562$348,600$312 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Watertown, TN 37184 92%1,681$83,125$346,900$238 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger
Tenino, WA 98589 92%390$83,855$438,700$317 larger
Jetersville, VA 23083 91%2,048$82,096$309,900$239 cheaper homes ($116K less) · smaller
Valley View, TX 76272 91%1,244$81,174$362,100$198 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Calhan, CO 80808 91%703$85,500$411,100$235 larger
Belfair, WA 98528 91%417$91,058$430,200$303 larger
Myakka City, FL 34251 90%2,207$92,005$481,900$345 pricier homes ($56K more)
Silt, CO 81652 90%532$101,038$530,000$310 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger
Rainier, WA 98576 90%384$104,896$446,900$297 Very close on everything we compare
Toledo, WA 98591 90%373$78,952$471,100$324 pricier homes ($45K more) · older residents · older homes
Bates City, MO 64011 89%1,202$82,981$377,100$200 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older residents
Winlock, WA 98596 89%378$80,188$415,600$299 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Bowdoin, ME 04287 88%2,295$91,239$292,800$251 cheaper homes ($133K less)
Conowingo, MD 21918 88%2,084$84,587$324,800$230 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Middletown, VA 22645 88%1,994$90,875$419,900$219 Very close on everything we compare
Rydal, GA 30171 88%1,809$73,409$365,000$224 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Kingston Springs, TN 37082 88%1,633$98,361$418,800$256 Very close on everything we compare
Center Point, TX 78010 88%1,338$86,830$318,600$226 cheaper homes ($107K less) · 6 min shorter commute

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.