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 Hayden, ID 83835

Hayden: median income $91,316, home value $562,000, $337/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Blaine, WA 98230 95%286$86,623$499,800$316 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Mount Vernon, WA 98274 95%252$96,177$547,700$360 Very close on everything we compare
Fruita, CO 81521 94%719$88,458$422,900$294 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Indio, CA 92203 92%971$97,311$553,700$263 Very close on everything we compare
Creswell, OR 97426 90%405$90,125$488,000$284 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller
Ferndale, WA 98248 90%279$91,060$589,600$373 pricier homes ($28K more) · younger residents
Vancouver, WA 98686 90%314$107,801$596,700$294 pricier homes ($35K more)
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 88%2,158$90,013$370,500$283 cheaper homes ($192K less)
Helena, MT 59602 88%237$92,985$408,600$270 cheaper homes ($153K less)
Hurricane, UT 84737 88%756$75,545$460,400$275 cheaper homes ($102K less)
Mesa, AZ 85207 88%1,027$108,699$505,000$282 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Jacksonville, OR 97530 88%495$89,239$617,400$313 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller
Washougal, WA 98671 88%305$111,545$586,100$296 Very close on everything we compare
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 87%2,232$86,193$437,500$368 cheaper homes ($125K less) · smaller
Bayfield, CO 81122 87%862$93,714$459,800$322 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller
Gardnerville, NV 89460 87%632$92,292$501,700$368 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Lodi, CA 95242 87%707$104,721$567,100$326 Very close on everything we compare
Olympia, WA 98512 87%300$101,530$472,100$316 cheaper homes ($90K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Chehalis, WA 98532 87%303$89,910$427,100$286 cheaper homes ($135K less)
Barnegat, NJ 08005 86%2,162$93,584$395,800$267 cheaper homes ($166K less) · older residents
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 86%879$84,270$486,000$342 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller · older residents
Montrose, CO 81403 86%788$80,893$515,300$311 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · older residents
Placerville, CA 95667 86%660$89,938$547,600$316 larger · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Eagle Point, OR 97524 86%471$82,933$433,100$259 cheaper homes ($129K less) · smaller
Redmond, OR 97756 86%324$87,278$489,900$318 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger · younger residents

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.