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 Mountain Center, CA 92561

Mountain Center: median income $94,063, home value $614,300, $405/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Roberts, MT 59070 92%900$96,250$531,000$349 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller
Hawi, HI 96719 91%2,563$79,471$612,100— Very close on everything we compare
Henefer, UT 84033 88%581$94,038$463,700$298 cheaper homes ($151K less) · smaller
Sumerduck, VA 22742 87%2,187$103,447$464,600$359 cheaper homes ($150K less)
Eagleville, TN 37060 87%1,708$97,386$490,800$271 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger
Honokaa, HI 96727 86%2,549$85,777$643,800$451 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · older homes
Amboy, WA 98601 86%897$106,776$515,000$277 cheaper homes ($99K less)
Silt, CO 81652 84%642$101,038$530,000$310 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Granite Falls, WA 98252 84%1,029$98,370$520,700$375 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger
Sanbornton, NH 03269 83%2,496$107,083$450,000$319 cheaper homes ($164K less) · 7 min shorter commute
North Berwick, ME 03906 83%2,540$105,156$432,900$325 cheaper homes ($181K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Midland, VA 22728 83%2,186$120,789$516,300$262 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger
Virginia Beach, VA 23457 83%2,291$116,250$571,000$312 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Hudson, CO 80642 83%798$105,225$620,000$247 larger
Mesa, CO 81643 83%609$106,813$605,300$287 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Entiat, WA 98822 83%985$86,103$383,600$340 cheaper homes ($231K less)
Eastport, NY 11941 82%2,443$123,750$705,800$348 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($92K more)
Amissville, VA 20106 82%2,169$108,469$521,900$281 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · older residents
Bluemont, VA 20135 82%2,177$114,219$573,500$347 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · older residents
Montverde, FL 34756 82%2,092$108,500$545,300$282 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · newer homes
Kremmling, CO 80459 82%720$87,727$390,600$361 cheaper homes ($224K less) · younger residents
Platteville, CO 80651 82%796$81,586$474,700$277 cheaper homes ($140K less) · larger
Colton, OR 97017 82%847$83,355$610,300$323 larger · 6 min longer commute
Sultan, WA 98294 82%1,012$96,676$527,600$314 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger
Park City, MT 59063 81%922$99,432$449,200$280 cheaper homes ($165K less) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes

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.