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 Lakeside, AZ 85929

Lakeside: median income $62,752, home value $306,900, $290/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Beaufort, NC 28516 95%1,892$66,057$315,400$270 larger
Jefferson, NC 28640 92%1,612$53,155$282,900$264 smaller
Clayton, GA 30525 92%1,509$65,150$274,200$258 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Chewelah, WA 99109 91%1,055$62,391$327,400$235 Very close on everything we compare
Belmont, NH 03220 90%2,148$68,242$316,200$280 younger residents
Center Conway, NH 03813 90%2,173$56,951$252,200$330 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
West Jefferson, NC 28694 90%1,609$58,486$273,200$266 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Bokeelia, FL 33922 90%1,732$71,164$355,800$269 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller
South Haven, MI 49090 90%1,401$68,920$295,000$293 larger · older homes
Minocqua, WI 54548 90%1,335$69,569$336,400$288 pricier homes ($30K more) · more single-family homes
Waynesville, NC 28785 89%1,530$61,769$310,300$252 younger residents
Reeds Spring, MO 65737 89%952$63,811$256,900$198 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Llano, TX 78643 89%704$68,365$362,600$239 pricier homes ($56K more) · more single-family homes
West Wareham, MA 02576 88%2,180$63,021$387,200$345 pricier homes ($80K more) · smaller · younger residents
Cape Charles, VA 23310 88%1,910$62,500$377,300$318 pricier homes ($70K more) · more renters
Columbus, NC 28722 88%1,575$67,760$307,300$225 Very close on everything we compare
Hayesville, NC 28904 88%1,487$56,480$284,500$234 Very close on everything we compare
Oak Hill, FL 32759 88%1,748$61,671$289,300$229 smaller
Crystal River, FL 34428 88%1,647$50,779$260,200$212 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Boyne City, MI 49712 88%1,522$74,033$294,800$318 Very close on everything we compare
Walker, MN 56484 88%1,200$67,019$311,200$272 smaller
Camdenton, MO 65020 88%996$62,392$265,200$231 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · younger residents
Saint Maries, ID 83861 88%970$65,508$307,800$237 younger residents
Winston, OR 97496 88%951$56,071$257,600$244 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Kettle Falls, WA 99141 88%1,082$58,302$320,700$201 Very close on everything we compare

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.