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 Joshua Tree, CA 92252

Joshua Tree: median income $66,598, home value $353,800, $320/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Emmett, ID 83617 88%674$65,291$429,100$284 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger
Newport, WA 99156 88%970$65,271$378,400$334 more homeowners
Mars Hill, NC 28754 87%1,906$68,750$296,700$248 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Arlee, MT 59821 87%908$66,458$375,200$312 smaller · younger residents
Saint Ignatius, MT 59865 87%918$56,473$345,300$394 smaller · younger residents
Trappe, MD 21673 86%2,242$68,194$363,100$205 smaller
De Leon Springs, FL 32130 86%2,075$60,563$290,400$243 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Dolores, CO 81323 86%495$75,393$392,000$291 pricier homes ($38K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Darrington, WA 98241 86%1,011$73,185$395,000$278 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Madison, VA 22727 85%2,122$84,857$379,900$228 pricier homes ($26K more)
Edinburg, VA 22824 85%2,104$63,594$318,200$198 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Saint Croix Falls, WI 54024 85%1,473$75,417$271,900$221 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Smithville, TX 78957 85%1,155$69,149$259,900$233 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Saint Maries, ID 83861 85%909$65,508$307,800$237 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Winchendon, MA 01475 84%2,438$76,552$323,800$251 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Bristol, NH 03222 84%2,452$81,587$313,000$348 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents
Kerhonkson, NY 12446 84%2,324$85,979$295,500$278 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Hayes, VA 23072 84%2,227$74,559$311,500$224 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450 84%2,146$69,554$264,200$213 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller
Livingston, MT 59047 84%851$71,620$456,800$325 pricier homes ($103K more) · larger · more walkable
Lisbon Falls, ME 04252 83%2,536$73,476$258,500$236 cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller
Ellsworth, ME 04605 83%2,617$77,377$256,900$244 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger
Marshville, NC 28103 83%2,033$76,924$248,200$237 cheaper homes ($106K less) · more homeowners
Dodgeville, WI 53533 83%1,531$77,849$270,000$197 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Preston, ID 83263 83%601$62,500$379,600$252 pricier homes ($26K more) · younger residents · 6 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.