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 Fowler, CA 93625

Fowler: median income $72,500, home value $392,700, $253/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Parma, ID 83660 89%515$63,653$417,900$226 pricier homes ($25K more)
Prosser, WA 99350 89%663$81,014$338,500$244 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Bowling Green, VA 22427 88%2,316$81,488$315,700$214 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller
Heyburn, ID 83336 88%516$71,191$298,800$219 cheaper homes ($94K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Kenai, AK 99611 88%2,156$79,757$308,500$245 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger · more homeowners
Beaufort, SC 29902 87%2,224$69,752$349,100$266 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Madras, OR 97741 87%559$70,983$334,800$247 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · more walkable
Quarryville, PA 17566 86%2,349$78,108$306,200$233 cheaper homes ($87K less) · more homeowners
Mary Esther, FL 32569 86%1,935$77,718$326,000$215 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Saint Joseph, MN 56374 86%1,448$80,156$292,000$174 cheaper homes ($101K less) · more homeowners
Laurel, MT 59044 86%842$87,648$346,500$231 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Ronan, MT 59864 86%806$61,978$297,700$274 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Grand Junction, CO 81503 86%635$75,053$352,100$274 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · more homeowners
Stayton, OR 97383 86%587$78,853$423,600$288 pricier homes ($31K more) · more walkable
Bridgewater, VA 22812 85%2,215$85,941$366,900$206 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Nashville, TN 37218 85%1,816$61,919$349,900$261 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · more walkable
Newport, MN 55055 85%1,499$71,979$378,100$245 smaller
Fort Morgan, CO 80701 85%893$70,302$347,600$189 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · older homes
Afton, WY 83110 85%626$86,731$381,100$250 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Mountain Home, ID 83647 85%497$63,760$320,400$225 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Bonners Ferry, ID 83805 85%853$70,083$418,900$292 pricier homes ($26K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Kaunakakai, HI 96748 85%2,479$77,422$386,500$399 smaller · older residents
Selah, WA 98942 85%696$84,646$382,300$239 larger · more homeowners
Spokane, WA 99217 85%777$73,620$377,400$232 larger · more walkable
Strasburg, PA 17579 84%2,346$91,621$349,400$240 cheaper homes ($43K less) · more homeowners

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.