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 Lucerne Valley, CA 92356

Lucerne Valley: median income $54,923, home value $269,900, $196/sq ft, 39-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waverly, TN 37185 90%1,640$51,314$181,800$192 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Greensboro, MD 21639 89%2,279$62,772$269,400$179 younger residents
Romney, WV 26757 89%2,120$57,212$213,200$173 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Erin, TN 37061 89%1,646$59,670$187,700$190 cheaper homes ($82K less) · newer homes
Dillsboro, IN 47018 89%1,783$61,085$188,800$167 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Hancock, MD 21750 88%2,149$60,625$232,500$166 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · older residents
Luray, VA 22835 88%2,139$52,939$265,700$225 larger · older residents
Centerville, TN 37033 88%1,660$68,284$217,200$207 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Dover, TN 37058 88%1,634$58,871$215,100$167 cheaper homes ($55K less) · newer homes
Norway, ME 04268 87%2,532$54,342$215,800$239 cheaper homes ($54K less) · older residents
Colonial Beach, VA 22443 87%2,220$64,810$256,800$236 larger · newer homes
Marshall, NC 28753 87%1,925$52,304$292,800$235 larger · newer homes
Tappahannock, VA 22560 86%2,227$61,082$246,600$195 more renters
Warsaw, VA 22572 86%2,234$67,542$238,400$186 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Stanley, VA 22851 86%2,136$53,329$187,500$205 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Coats, NC 27521 86%2,155$61,590$227,400$199 cheaper homes ($43K less) · newer homes
Whitwell, TN 37397 86%1,775$54,750$173,200$194 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · newer homes
Bethel, OH 45106 86%1,835$71,433$204,400$198 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Gosport, IN 47433 86%1,698$59,520$197,900$157 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller · newer homes
Florence, CO 81226 86%709$53,969$258,800$224 7 min shorter commute
Boonville, NC 27011 85%2,037$65,698$168,300$187 cheaper homes ($102K less)
Walnut Cove, NC 27052 85%2,063$59,024$186,700$165 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger
Georgetown, OH 45121 85%1,845$60,188$164,600$185 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Newaygo, MI 49337 85%1,773$67,526$202,000$198 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Plattsburg, MO 64477 85%1,286$64,643$238,900$172 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · older residents

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.