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 Descanso, CA 91916

Descanso: median income $103,438, home value $676,800, $273/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fall Creek, OR 97438 88%833$125,156$584,900$319 cheaper homes ($92K less) · 5 min longer commute
Mulino, OR 97042 87%909$118,045$687,700$341 larger
Hayden, CO 81639 85%738$110,404$443,600$354 cheaper homes ($233K less) · larger
Kealakekua, HI 96750 84%2,589$92,576$697,600$283 larger
Lake Helen, FL 32744 83%2,104$112,599$453,700$238 cheaper homes ($223K less) · larger
Amity, OR 97101 83%916$99,837$581,500$258 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Tacoma, WA 98443 83%1,035$105,035$519,100$320 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger
Kersey, CO 80644 82%846$97,847$409,100$276 cheaper homes ($268K less) · older residents
Collbran, CO 81624 82%654$91,739$472,600$431 cheaper homes ($204K less) · newer homes
Hanapepe, HI 96716 82%2,723$105,000$716,500$546 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Columbia City, OR 97018 82%958$96,750$460,000$294 cheaper homes ($217K less) · newer homes
Gaston, OR 97119 82%936$115,515$629,000$300 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Elmira, OR 97437 81%856$95,129$517,900$320 cheaper homes ($159K less) · larger · older residents
Keymar, MD 21757 80%2,222$100,500$466,100$238 cheaper homes ($211K less) · larger · younger residents
Port Republic, VA 24471 80%2,142$97,396$395,500$227 cheaper homes ($281K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Welch, MN 55089 79%1,512$108,750$384,800$238 cheaper homes ($292K less) · more homeowners
La Salle, CO 80645 79%835$87,609$427,200$256 cheaper homes ($250K less) · larger · younger residents
West Townsend, MA 01474 78%2,510$136,371$460,200$277 higher income ($33K more) · cheaper homes ($217K less) · 7 min longer commute
Union, IL 60180 78%1,658$110,070$349,100$201 cheaper homes ($328K less)
Hot Sulphur Springs, CO 80451 78%767$111,875$421,100$349 cheaper homes ($256K less) · more walkable
Hubbard, OR 97032 78%913$101,250$456,600$291 cheaper homes ($220K less) · larger
North Franklin, CT 06254 77%2,490$105,000$326,200$246 cheaper homes ($351K less)
Zionsville, PA 18092 77%2,314$112,721$422,200$219 cheaper homes ($255K less) · larger · older residents
Chesapeake City, MD 21915 77%2,299$95,875$376,500$252 cheaper homes ($300K less) · older residents
Virginia Beach, VA 23457 77%2,301$116,250$571,000$312 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger · newer homes

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.