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 Helendale, CA 92342

Helendale: median income $115,058, home value $378,900, $197/sq ft, 42-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Prince Frederick, MD 20678 91%2,255$125,732$455,100$200 pricier homes ($76K more) · larger
Aylett, VA 23009 89%2,229$98,581$319,100$198 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Bennett, CO 80102 89%789$113,125$542,600$229 pricier homes ($164K more)
Bryans Road, MD 20616 87%2,229$128,177$387,000$200 Very close on everything we compare
Mechanicsville, MD 20659 87%2,249$121,654$416,900$230 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Zimmerman, MN 55398 86%1,449$103,419$355,100$193 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Lusby, MD 20657 85%2,265$115,748$333,500$218 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Bealeton, VA 22712 85%2,193$103,618$412,900$248 pricier homes ($34K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Moyock, NC 27958 85%2,301$112,177$404,900$226 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Cedar, MN 55011 85%1,462$121,434$405,300$208 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Caddo Mills, TX 75135 85%1,213$111,235$324,200$164 cheaper homes ($55K less) · less walkable
Spring Creek, NV 89815 85%425$102,926$351,100$228 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · less walkable
Kurtistown, HI 96760 85%2,524$103,286$368,700$186 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Orting, WA 98360 85%888$125,842$505,200$286 pricier homes ($126K more) · larger
Washingtonville, NY 10992 84%2,368$112,353$413,700$289 pricier homes ($35K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Saint Leonard, MD 20685 84%2,260$119,135$450,400$212 pricier homes ($72K more) · older residents
Manhattan, IL 60442 84%1,653$127,986$355,900$194 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Trenton, TX 75490 84%1,203$92,500$361,500$190 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Anderson, TX 77830 84%1,272$102,557$350,000$210 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · less walkable
Byers, CO 80103 84%798$102,656$501,900$235 pricier homes ($123K more) · smaller
Ruther Glen, VA 22546 83%2,213$89,247$301,100$215 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger
Spotsylvania, VA 22551 83%2,199$110,370$391,400$236 larger · less walkable
Montpelier, VA 23192 83%2,202$110,642$428,700$233 pricier homes ($50K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Winston, GA 30187 83%1,849$101,702$330,100$160 cheaper homes ($49K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Shafer, MN 55074 83%1,483$106,625$297,500$225 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller

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.