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 Lost Hills, CA 93249

Lost Hills: median income $46,646, home value $170,300, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Midway Park, NC 28544 84%2,375$52,354$141,700$172 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Bridgeport, WA 98813 83%856$49,969$177,000$202 more homeowners · older homes
Noel, MO 64854 82%1,405$44,490$132,800$153 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · older residents
Marion, MS 39342 73%1,784$45,298$187,300— more homeowners
Oak Grove, KY 42262 73%1,794$51,975$157,000$186 larger · more single-family homes
Tulsa, OK 74116 73%1,332$55,156$156,200$173 larger · older residents · older homes
Sharpsburg, NC 27878 70%2,329$53,382$111,500— cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · older residents
Evans Mills, NY 13637 69%2,369$57,103$176,200$142 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863 69%2,015$53,191$284,100$340 pricier homes ($114K more) · larger · older residents
Peach Springs, AZ 86434 69%353$58,080$103,700— cheaper homes ($67K less) · more single-family homes
New Church, VA 23415 68%2,427$46,836$177,800$206 older residents
Wichita, KS 67210 68%1,249$59,082$182,300$155 larger
Osceola, AR 72370 67%1,662$48,732$105,600$23 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · older residents
Hutchins, TX 75141 67%1,328$48,159$248,900$188 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Keene, TX 76059 67%1,297$51,401$237,900$163 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger · older residents
Midway, TN 37809 66%2,041$50,192$163,000$180 older residents · more homeowners · less walkable
Calcium, NY 13616 65%2,369$45,962$144,400$182 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · older residents
East Flat Rock, NC 28726 65%2,085$54,152$198,400$237 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · older residents
Fort Thompson, SD 57339 65%1,220$46,136$121,700— cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · 11 min shorter commute
New Llano, LA 71461 65%1,551$51,042$124,500$108 cheaper homes ($46K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
West Hamlin, WV 25571 64%2,065$49,201$116,300$140 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller · older residents
Danville, AR 72833 64%1,479$52,422$121,900$127 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Corpus Christi, TX 78409 64%1,406$60,089$172,600$129 older residents · more homeowners
Fisher, WV 26818 63%2,228$42,173$129,200$194 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Sunflower, MS 38778 63%1,658$40,179$86,900— cheaper homes ($83K 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.