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 Chama, NM 87520

Chama: median income $38,889, home value $217,600, $266/sq ft, 10-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tombstone, AZ 85638 76%409$37,604$184,000$242 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 12 min longer commute
Thompson Falls, MT 59873 68%864$60,000$305,900$277 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger · younger residents
Nucla, CO 81424 68%143$39,960$206,000— younger residents · more renters · older homes
Walden, CO 80480 67%264$49,167$230,700$372 younger residents · older homes
Kilmarnock, VA 22482 66%1,654$47,308$355,600$202 pricier homes ($138K more) · larger · more renters
Counce, TN 38326 66%1,029$49,026$191,900$173 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · 12 min longer commute
Colorado City, CO 81019 66%120$38,056$223,400$241 15 min longer commute · more renters
Crestone, CO 81131 66%88$45,156$333,500$293 pricier homes ($116K more)
Council, ID 83612 66%748$54,810$309,600$257 pricier homes ($92K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Ninilchik, AK 99639 66%2,532$47,333$250,800$168 pricier homes ($33K more) · younger residents · 9 min longer commute
Lampe, MO 65681 64%727$57,548$214,800$228 12 min longer commute
Republic, WA 99166 63%1,017$56,676$286,000$233 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger · younger residents
Saint Germain, WI 54558 62%1,080$59,718$261,000$345 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · younger residents
Gainesville, MO 65655 62%784$37,337$176,000$145 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · younger residents
Menard, TX 76859 61%568$47,443$110,900— cheaper homes ($107K less) · 8 min longer commute · older homes
Willow Creek, CA 95573 61%956$47,258$388,100$223 pricier homes ($171K more) · more renters · older homes
Port Orford, OR 97465 61%1,030$43,777$342,100$273 pricier homes ($125K more) · larger · 13 min longer commute
Waterford, MS 38685 60%964$41,210$124,100$158 cheaper homes ($94K less) · 7 min longer commute · less walkable
Mountain, WI 54149 60%1,101$50,250$207,500$245 16 min longer commute
Climax Springs, MO 65324 60%751$52,969$311,300$235 pricier homes ($94K more) · 13 min longer commute
Challis, ID 83226 60%659$36,458$358,700$146 pricier homes ($141K more) · larger · younger residents
Raphine, VA 24472 59%1,498$51,429$251,000$268 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · younger residents
Caseville, MI 48725 59%1,314$60,298$178,200$188 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Deadwood, SD 57732 59%538$43,636$232,300$241 6 min longer commute · more renters · older homes
Seeley Lake, MT 59868 59%793$51,490$391,600$403 pricier homes ($174K more) · larger · 13 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.