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 Vernal, UT 84078

Vernal: median income $75,113, home value $309,000, $176/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pocatello, ID 83202 94%229$70,423$334,200$180 pricier homes ($25K more)
Millersburg, OH 44654 93%1,450$79,345$297,800$197 Very close on everything we compare
Artesia, NM 88210 92%597$79,632$223,800$165 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller
Moses Lake, WA 98837 92%670$74,586$315,000$234 larger
Gainesville, GA 30507 91%1,473$71,703$257,800$176 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Billings, MT 59105 91%384$78,014$349,300$196 pricier homes ($40K more)
Idaho Falls, ID 83401 91%246$78,497$358,700$171 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Tucson, AZ 85756 91%582$72,490$233,500$177 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Ocala, FL 34480 90%1,734$77,557$282,700$184 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older residents
Union, MO 63084 90%996$75,992$226,900$190 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Blackfoot, ID 83221 90%239$75,172$281,300$176 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older homes
Casa Grande, AZ 85122 90%536$68,443$284,200$183 larger · older residents
Fountain Inn, SC 29644 89%1,541$70,301$257,400$157 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Griffin, GA 30224 89%1,477$70,216$239,100$155 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Panama City, FL 32404 89%1,520$74,708$273,500$177 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 6 min longer commute
Sauk Rapids, MN 56379 89%853$76,138$272,400$161 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Lowell, AR 72745 89%883$91,207$281,800$212 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Rogers, AR 72756 89%881$72,230$269,200$212 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents
Siloam Springs, AR 72761 89%864$76,122$236,600$177 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Evanston, WY 82930 89%93$81,042$292,800$164 smaller · older residents
Mountain Home, ID 83647 89%367$63,760$320,400$225 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Marys, GA 31558 88%1,701$74,268$297,000$181 5 min longer commute · more renters
Jacksonville, FL 32218 88%1,705$69,638$288,100$175 larger
Batavia, OH 45103 88%1,348$79,793$264,200$182 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Saint Joseph, MN 56374 88%844$80,156$292,000$174 smaller

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.