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 Julian, CA 92036

Julian: median income $73,750, home value $591,400, $408/sq ft, 41-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Upper Black Eddy, PA 18972 85%2,328$80,208$478,000$378 cheaper homes ($113K less) · older homes
Thayne, WY 83127 83%746$87,743$482,700$325 cheaper homes ($109K less) · newer homes
Florence, MT 59833 82%947$94,097$551,600$333 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · newer homes
Naples, ME 04055 81%2,561$78,188$340,100$334 cheaper homes ($251K less)
Milton, TN 37118 81%1,735$74,592$478,300$318 cheaper homes ($113K less) · smaller · less walkable
Divide, CO 80814 81%754$80,500$466,800$254 cheaper homes ($125K less) · newer homes
Rhododendron, OR 97049 81%896$92,056$474,200$284 cheaper homes ($117K less) · smaller
Clinton, WA 98236 81%1,073$94,362$668,400$423 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger
Cle Elum, WA 98922 81%1,005$73,603$647,600$457 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger · newer homes
Deltaville, VA 23043 80%2,272$70,625$420,600$315 cheaper homes ($171K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Graford, TX 76449 80%1,055$72,813$398,700$299 cheaper homes ($193K less) · smaller
New Hampton, NH 03256 79%2,508$87,917$382,000$353 cheaper homes ($209K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Mc Clellanville, SC 29458 79%2,134$86,431$370,900$337 cheaper homes ($221K less)
Hawi, HI 96719 79%2,564$79,471$612,100— smaller · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Stevenson, WA 98648 79%918$96,696$555,500$380 cheaper homes ($36K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Florissant, CO 80816 78%745$75,472$418,200$252 cheaper homes ($173K less) · larger
Acton, ME 04001 77%2,544$78,750$334,300$388 cheaper homes ($257K less)
Waretown, NJ 08758 77%2,379$96,900$486,300$266 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger · newer homes
Lake Lure, NC 28746 77%1,961$70,469$470,700$313 cheaper homes ($121K less) · older residents
Toledo, WA 98591 77%982$78,952$471,100$324 cheaper homes ($120K less) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Loon Lake, WA 99148 77%1,040$67,431$429,900$336 cheaper homes ($162K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Temple, NH 03084 76%2,497$94,107$401,000$293 cheaper homes ($190K less) · smaller
Raymond, ME 04071 76%2,568$88,722$414,400$365 cheaper homes ($177K less) · larger · younger residents
Barryville, NY 12719 76%2,339$79,921$328,900$336 cheaper homes ($263K less) · smaller · older homes
Crosslake, MN 56442 76%1,509$79,896$479,800$349 cheaper homes ($112K less) · older residents · 11 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.