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 Buttonwillow, CA 93206

Buttonwillow: median income $53,654, home value $225,000, $193/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hazelton, ID 83335 77%573$61,053$251,300$226 pricier homes ($26K more) · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Minotola, NJ 08341 72%2,433$68,830$189,400$191 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more homeowners
Jeffersonville, OH 43128 72%1,975$50,915$173,100$146 cheaper homes ($52K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Carey, ID 83320 72%620$57,813$245,500$258 more homeowners
Cowan, TN 37318 71%1,877$52,125$177,100$178 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Beach City, OH 44608 71%2,077$56,875$169,600$124 cheaper homes ($55K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Eldridge, MO 65463 71%1,487$69,973$158,900— cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · younger residents
Terreton, ID 83450 71%694$70,046$231,300— smaller · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Guthrie, KY 42234 70%1,799$58,259$165,300$173 cheaper homes ($60K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Wapato, WA 98951 69%765$63,356$230,400$184 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Eminence, KY 40019 68%1,895$60,761$220,200$165 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Hansen, ID 83334 68%565$64,583$272,800$235 pricier homes ($48K more) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Nyssa, OR 97913 68%599$55,921$240,600$245 larger · more homeowners
Kingsford Heights, IN 46346 67%1,811$57,830$120,500$144 cheaper homes ($105K less) · more homeowners
Bridgeport, WA 98813 66%871$49,969$177,000$202 cheaper homes ($48K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Granger, WA 98932 66%757$71,806$250,000$197 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Irondale, OH 43932 65%2,119$54,531$152,000$159 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Kellogg, ID 83837 65%856$45,885$228,500$197 larger · older residents · 9 min shorter commute
Beverly, OH 45715 64%2,079$47,176$176,000$115 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Park City, KY 42160 63%1,856$49,364$157,000$155 cheaper homes ($68K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Covert, MI 49043 63%1,836$36,280$153,300$221 cheaper homes ($72K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Warner, OK 74469 63%1,356$54,899$127,200$142 cheaper homes ($98K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Panama, OK 74951 63%1,395$49,375$124,800$126 cheaper homes ($100K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Tannersville, NY 12485 62%2,456$67,165$316,700$201 pricier homes ($92K more) · smaller · 13 min shorter commute
Fort Pierce, FL 34947 62%2,354$51,811$279,000$210 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · 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.