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 Fort Mcdowell, AZ 85264

Fort Mcdowell: median income $60,729, home value $369,200, $369/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Carlsbad, TX 76934 80%655$52,125$269,600$344 cheaper homes ($100K less) · 5 min longer commute
Hoolehua, HI 96729 80%2,890$59,375$231,900— cheaper homes ($137K less) · older residents
Malaga, WA 98828 80%1,048$70,197$437,600$294 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Hildale, UT 84784 77%246$78,523$379,200— more renters
Alexis, NC 28006 75%1,739$51,932$234,600$250 cheaper homes ($135K less) · older homes
Epworth, GA 30541 73%1,548$66,579$214,400$343 cheaper homes ($155K less) · larger · older residents
Holmesville, OH 44633 73%1,700$64,688$215,200— cheaper homes ($154K less) · larger · more renters
Grawn, MI 49637 72%1,577$75,000$237,100$275 cheaper homes ($132K less) · larger · older residents
Murtaugh, ID 83344 72%627$65,417$425,800$279 pricier homes ($57K more) · more renters · older homes
Greenleaf, ID 83626 72%748$69,531$353,900$410 larger · 8 min longer commute · more renters
Marsing, ID 83639 72%740$64,042$461,900$289 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · older residents
Wilder, ID 83676 72%749$67,176$362,100$280 larger · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Ranchester, WY 82839 71%817$57,708$385,900$324 older residents · more renters
Gilbertsville, KY 42044 70%1,337$57,333$271,400$242 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · older residents
Corinne, UT 84307 70%549$80,441$402,400— pricier homes ($33K more) · 11 min longer commute
Holcomb, KS 67851 69%671$83,906$241,800$235 cheaper homes ($127K less) · larger
Centerfield, UT 84622 68%381$77,778$315,200$170 cheaper homes ($54K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Pateros, WA 98846 68%1,085$84,464$338,200$276 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents · older homes
Primm Springs, TN 38476 67%1,392$83,654$574,000$433 pricier homes ($205K more) · 12 min longer commute
Dalton, WI 53926 67%1,392$62,917$226,700$385 cheaper homes ($143K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Rockland, WI 54653 67%1,320$72,596$264,200$240 cheaper homes ($105K less) · older residents · 10 min longer commute
Ogema, MN 56569 67%1,243$57,434$209,500— cheaper homes ($160K less) · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Pingree, ID 83262 67%660$59,900$334,100$221 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 10 min longer commute · older homes
Donald, OR 97020 67%997$80,729$351,500$302 older residents · 7 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Plymouth, ME 04969 66%2,370$61,964$207,100— cheaper homes ($162K less) · older residents · 9 min longer 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.