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 Empire, CA 95319

Empire: median income $45,400, home value $354,100, 41-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Eminence, MO 65466 75%1,610$40,625$226,500$216 cheaper homes ($128K less) · more homeowners
Woodsville, NH 03785 74%2,553$57,902$244,100$183 cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger
Thornton, CA 95686 74%50$52,109$448,900$391 pricier homes ($95K more) · 11 min shorter commute
Woodbourne, NY 12788 72%2,448$62,768$270,500$312 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Alexandria, TN 37012 72%1,919$49,265$237,600$204 cheaper homes ($117K less) · larger · more homeowners
Mifflin, PA 17058 71%2,317$49,125$201,800— cheaper homes ($152K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Morongo Valley, CA 92256 70%346$51,949$285,400$293 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger · older residents
Malin, OR 97632 70%304$44,167$273,400$206 cheaper homes ($81K less) · 10 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Dowelltown, TN 37059 66%1,928$49,510$232,200$144 cheaper homes ($122K less) · 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
Mill City, OR 97360 66%498$67,250$310,100$278 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Greensboro, MD 21639 65%2,422$62,772$269,400$179 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger · more homeowners
Cabazon, CA 92230 65%346$48,704$270,400$267 cheaper homes ($84K less) · younger residents · 13 min shorter commute
Stanley, VA 22851 64%2,285$53,329$187,500$205 cheaper homes ($167K less) · larger · more homeowners
Strathmore, CA 93267 64%144$47,344$237,000$255 cheaper homes ($117K less) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Stevinson, CA 95374 64%21$57,538$463,300— pricier homes ($109K more) · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
South Webster, OH 45682 63%2,059$56,250$187,700— cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger · more homeowners
Callaway, VA 24067 62%2,227$49,353$246,300$120 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Craigsville, VA 24430 62%2,247$45,000$167,200$196 cheaper homes ($187K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Milford, TX 76670 62%1,404$60,104$216,900$136 cheaper homes ($137K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Lucerne, CA 95458 62%143$57,674$249,500$179 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger · older residents
Huron, TN 38345 61%1,792$48,333$218,200$123 cheaper homes ($136K less) · older residents · 10 min shorter commute
Jeffersonville, OH 43128 61%2,005$50,915$173,100$146 cheaper homes ($181K less) · larger · 12 min shorter commute
Beverly, OH 45715 61%2,108$47,176$176,000$115 cheaper homes ($178K less) · larger · 11 min shorter commute
Willamina, OR 97396 61%532$57,614$351,000$245 larger · older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Wakefield, VA 23888 60%2,392$66,558$210,300$172 cheaper homes ($144K less) · larger

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.