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 Borrego Springs, CA 92004

Borrego Springs: median income $74,018, home value $390,400, $204/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Buchanan Dam, TX 78609 91%1,063$64,418$319,700$189 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller
North Conway, NH 03860 87%2,518$71,759$401,500$281 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, NC 28722 85%1,946$67,760$307,300$225 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · younger residents
Bokeelia, FL 33922 85%2,088$71,164$355,800$269 cheaper homes ($35K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Walker, MN 56484 85%1,487$67,019$311,200$272 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Custer, SD 57730 83%1,001$83,469$378,800$279 larger · more homeowners
Medina, TX 78055 83%1,029$85,345$266,500$250 cheaper homes ($124K less) · smaller
Gold Hill, OR 97525 83%733$72,025$450,200$246 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · younger residents
Renfrew, PA 16053 82%2,058$76,054$297,500$218 cheaper homes ($93K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Bracey, VA 23919 82%2,165$66,750$300,000$203 cheaper homes ($90K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Townsend, TN 37882 82%1,856$69,012$344,500$315 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Johnson City, TX 78636 82%1,074$72,663$532,600$263 pricier homes ($142K more) · younger residents
Rimrock, AZ 86335 82%279$64,455$285,200$253 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger
Panacea, FL 32346 81%1,886$61,700$267,200$257 cheaper homes ($123K less) · younger residents
Llano, TX 78643 81%1,053$68,365$362,600$239 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · younger residents
Cabot, PA 16023 80%2,069$86,042$255,600$263 cheaper homes ($135K less) · younger residents
New Market, VA 22844 80%2,125$65,974$281,200$202 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger · younger residents
Clarksville, VA 23927 80%2,140$70,938$295,500$198 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · younger residents
North Port, FL 34289 80%2,077$83,411$371,000$173 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Vonore, TN 37885 80%1,833$78,793$335,100$270 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · younger residents
Spring Green, WI 53588 80%1,575$83,417$292,300$232 cheaper homes ($98K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Minocqua, WI 54548 80%1,652$69,569$336,400$288 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · younger residents
Rocky Mount, MO 65072 80%1,367$78,750$335,700$286 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller · younger residents
Kimberling City, MO 65686 80%1,316$58,363$257,300$197 cheaper homes ($133K less) · more homeowners
Bullhead City, AZ 86429 80%169$58,906$349,900$222 cheaper homes ($41K 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.