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 Taos, NM 87571

Taos: median income $57,575, home value $458,900, $359/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Brevard, NC 28712 94%1,280$63,045$414,300$299 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064 88%1,912$59,887$361,700$370 cheaper homes ($97K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Belfast, ME 04915 85%1,984$66,362$308,700$271 cheaper homes ($150K less)
Black Mountain, NC 28711 85%1,300$74,761$370,200$307 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Hendersonville, NC 28739 85%1,292$73,582$394,900$273 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger
Polson, MT 59860 85%894$62,047$441,500$309 younger residents
Cape Charles, VA 23310 84%1,632$62,500$377,300$318 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller
Prescott, AZ 86303 84%404$72,359$563,000$321 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger · older residents
Morehead City, NC 28557 83%1,619$68,528$362,800$249 cheaper homes ($96K less) · younger residents
Damariscotta, ME 04543 82%1,958$59,423$363,500$431 cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller
Beaufort, NC 28516 82%1,625$66,057$315,400$270 cheaper homes ($144K less)
Flat Rock, NC 28731 82%1,298$66,309$402,300$253 cheaper homes ($57K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Ludlow, VT 05149 81%1,796$64,191$365,300$300 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller
Fredericksburg, TX 78624 81%573$75,237$463,300$284 larger
Llano, TX 78643 80%561$68,365$362,600$239 cheaper homes ($96K less) · smaller
Sandpoint, ID 83864 80%993$70,496$516,500$381 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · younger residents
Meredith, NH 03253 79%1,857$84,719$482,700$354 higher income ($27K more) · smaller
Columbus, NC 28722 79%1,309$67,760$307,300$225 cheaper homes ($152K less) · smaller
New Buffalo, MI 49117 79%1,074$75,114$488,000$351 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Traverse City, MI 49684 79%1,188$80,788$420,200$332 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · younger residents
Traverse City, MI 49686 79%1,192$71,609$344,700$289 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger · younger residents
Hamilton, MT 59840 79%812$61,752$428,100$343 cheaper homes ($31K less) · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Sedona, AZ 86336 79%363$68,435$774,800$468 pricier homes ($316K more)
Mount Shasta, CA 96067 79%961$65,000$415,400$247 cheaper homes ($44K less) · more walkable
Chincoteague Island, VA 23336 78%1,660$63,464$346,700$288 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter 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.