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 Questa, NM 87556

Questa: median income $52,546, home value $241,600, $104/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Greenwood, LA 71033 88%723$54,243$219,100$77 more homeowners
Dubach, LA 71235 87%783$58,293$182,400$110 cheaper homes ($59K less)
North Lima, OH 44452 86%1,369$61,602$256,600$119 older residents · older homes
Forsyth, MO 65653 85%691$46,918$193,400$151 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Kamiah, ID 83536 85%850$53,707$241,800$139 Very close on everything we compare
Staffordsville, KY 41256 84%1,248$60,583$203,800$142 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older homes
Shreveport, LA 71119 84%727$58,538$187,000$122 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · older homes
Strattanville, PA 16258 83%1,440$55,188$183,800— cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller · older homes
Flintstone, GA 30725 82%1,139$49,699$218,100$150 larger · younger residents
Stockton, MO 65785 82%653$50,086$175,000$153 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · younger residents
Cape Vincent, NY 13618 81%1,613$61,494$228,700$143 smaller · older residents · more homeowners
New Paris, PA 15554 81%1,474$50,500$273,000$149 pricier homes ($31K more) · older homes
Marble, NC 28905 81%1,214$57,708$228,200$171 younger residents
Bull Shoals, AR 72619 80%722$45,042$161,600$134 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller
Avondale, CO 81022 80%113$60,481$210,400$87 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · older homes
Inyokern, CA 93527 80%687$62,596$319,000$157 pricier homes ($77K more) · smaller
Newport, ME 04953 79%1,964$60,365$234,800$182 older homes
Stamford, NY 12167 79%1,687$53,047$193,100$120 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older homes
Grantsville, MD 21536 79%1,447$64,205$201,300$165 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Ripley, WV 25271 79%1,310$52,150$158,400$115 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · older homes
Kingwood, WV 26537 79%1,416$59,844$169,900$112 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger · younger residents
Jenkinsburg, GA 30234 79%1,240$56,905$232,000$166 6 min longer commute
Phillips, WI 54555 79%1,002$59,025$186,900$153 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · older homes
Roundup, MT 59072 79%688$59,594$241,200$137 larger · older homes
Ellsinore, MO 63937 79%820$61,614$223,000$112 younger residents

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.