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 Lake Hughes, CA 93532

Lake Hughes: median income $113,363, home value $435,300, $343/sq ft, 41-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Sumerduck, VA 22742 92%2,263$103,447$464,600$359 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Midland, VA 22728 90%2,261$120,789$516,300$262 pricier homes ($81K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Westtown, NY 10998 87%2,412$129,348$462,000$282 pricier homes ($27K more)
Harris, MN 55032 87%1,534$104,554$380,900$271 cheaper homes ($54K less) · more homeowners
Roberts, MT 59070 87%888$96,250$531,000$349 pricier homes ($96K more) · smaller · newer homes
Amboy, WA 98601 87%803$106,776$515,000$277 pricier homes ($80K more) · older residents
Rainier, WA 98576 86%870$104,896$446,900$297 larger · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Townsend, MA 01469 85%2,553$103,801$425,800$268 larger
New Ipswich, NH 03071 85%2,544$110,507$392,400$278 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Welcome, MD 20693 85%2,295$126,033$375,200$238 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Okeana, OH 45053 85%1,879$109,148$342,000$299 cheaper homes ($93K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Montpelier, VA 23192 84%2,268$110,642$428,700$233 larger
Stanchfield, MN 55080 84%1,527$101,964$355,900$235 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Bennett, CO 80102 84%851$113,125$542,600$229 pricier homes ($107K more) · larger
Byers, CO 80103 84%861$102,656$501,900$235 pricier homes ($67K more) · younger residents
East Wareham, MA 02538 83%2,611$123,750$392,000$404 cheaper homes ($43K less) · 8 min shorter commute
East Freetown, MA 02717 83%2,595$130,625$520,800$336 pricier homes ($86K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
North Berwick, ME 03906 83%2,599$105,156$432,900$325 larger · 10 min shorter commute
Limerick, ME 04048 83%2,595$101,172$269,400$332 cheaper homes ($166K less) · newer homes
Pine Bush, NY 12566 83%2,423$112,831$357,000$274 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Goldvein, VA 22720 83%2,266$139,500$568,000$271 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($133K more) · smaller
Eagleville, TN 37060 83%1,795$97,386$490,800$271 pricier homes ($56K more) · newer homes
Silt, CO 81652 83%685$101,038$530,000$310 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger · newer homes
Ashford, CT 06278 82%2,533$121,875$335,500$271 cheaper homes ($100K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Sterling, CT 06377 82%2,551$97,308$275,900$298 cheaper homes ($159K less)

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.