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 Payson, AZ 85541

Payson: median income $66,383, home value $361,200, $298/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Beaufort, NC 28516 88%1,965$66,057$315,400$270 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · younger residents
Mesquite, NV 89027 88%240$71,574$362,400$229 more apartments and townhomes
Blairsville, GA 30512 87%1,549$66,642$313,300$205 cheaper homes ($48K less) · younger residents
Florence, OR 97439 87%961$61,982$410,900$307 pricier homes ($50K more) · more walkable
Sequim, WA 98382 87%1,136$74,189$493,900$308 pricier homes ($133K more)
Little River, SC 29566 85%1,860$64,878$308,700$191 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Hiawassee, GA 30546 85%1,564$59,234$295,000$248 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Brookings, OR 97415 85%888$69,152$394,800$316 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · younger residents
Port Saint Joe, FL 32456 84%1,548$64,681$378,500$285 smaller
Paradise, CA 95969 83%685$69,067$455,500$287 pricier homes ($94K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
South Haven, MI 49090 82%1,463$68,920$295,000$293 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · younger residents
Aitkin, MN 56431 82%1,252$67,828$295,400$213 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Gold Beach, OR 97444 82%908$64,920$402,700$296 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · older homes
Hayesville, NC 28904 81%1,560$56,480$284,500$234 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller
Minocqua, WI 54548 81%1,387$69,569$336,400$288 smaller
Plains, MT 59859 81%935$64,846$429,200$278 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller · younger residents
Ocean Park, WA 98640 81%1,079$65,735$355,400$302 smaller
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 80%1,842$70,691$340,400$228 more apartments and townhomes
Lady Lake, FL 32159 80%1,760$58,518$289,600$202 cheaper homes ($72K less) · older residents
Port Charlotte, FL 33948 80%1,797$62,744$298,700$190 cheaper homes ($63K less) · 7 min longer commute
Hernando, FL 34442 80%1,734$57,259$338,600$188 7 min longer commute
Loudon, TN 37774 80%1,524$87,718$365,100$253 Very close on everything we compare
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 80%1,462$70,212$297,300$257 cheaper homes ($64K less) · younger residents · older homes
Eagle River, WI 54521 80%1,410$74,071$305,100$257 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · younger residents
Murphy, NC 28906 79%1,545$55,759$250,300$223 cheaper homes ($111K less) · 7 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.