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.

Reset

Towns most like Big Bear City, CA 92314

Big Bear City: median income $74,910, home value $457,200, $316/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Livingston, MT 59047 87%853$71,620$456,800$325 larger · more apartments and townhomes
West Yarmouth, MA 02673 86%2,556$73,854$502,200$411 pricier homes ($45K more)
Port Angeles, WA 98363 85%1,021$64,869$385,100$331 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Suquamish, WA 98392 85%977$85,530$452,400$367 smaller
Creswell, OR 97426 83%745$90,125$488,000$284 pricier homes ($31K more)
Veneta, OR 97487 83%760$65,625$414,700$296 cheaper homes ($43K less) · newer homes
Aurora, OR 97002 82%821$70,137$530,100$339 pricier homes ($73K more) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Junction City, OR 97448 82%767$81,029$478,700$288 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Fairless Hills, PA 19030 80%2,323$96,603$376,200$270 cheaper homes ($81K less) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Sandston, VA 23150 80%2,208$79,050$283,000$228 cheaper homes ($174K less)
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 80%2,310$86,193$437,500$368 less walkable
Bellevue, ID 83313 80%649$74,575$578,000$516 pricier homes ($121K more) · smaller · newer homes
Scappoose, OR 97056 80%857$94,209$469,800$268 more apartments and townhomes
Dayton, OR 97114 80%825$84,228$462,500$272 smaller · younger residents
Eugene, OR 97404 80%759$86,776$424,800$294 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Davenport, WA 99122 80%930$82,386$331,700$211 cheaper homes ($126K less) · smaller
Glendale, AZ 85304 79%270$86,927$379,700$241 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger
Welches, OR 97067 79%812$87,794$387,500$324 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller
Cottage Grove, OR 97424 79%738$79,688$372,500$275 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Port Angeles, WA 98362 79%1,016$70,123$403,300$298 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Cashmere, WA 98815 79%936$88,108$554,300$310 pricier homes ($97K more) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Feeding Hills, MA 01030 78%2,430$93,815$327,700$248 cheaper homes ($130K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Vergennes, VT 05491 78%2,398$87,917$337,400$286 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller
Boulder City, NV 89005 78%163$74,375$435,600$289 larger · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Saint Helens, OR 97051 78%862$85,869$412,100$269 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes

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.