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 Gustine, CA 95322

Gustine: median income $65,761, home value $444,100, $335/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Miami, FL 33170 81%2,502$73,958$474,400$337 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · more walkable
Denton, MD 21629 75%2,436$73,956$334,200$188 cheaper homes ($110K less)
Homedale, ID 83628 73%492$68,854$323,100$277 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller · younger residents
Estacada, OR 97023 73%563$76,762$562,600$280 pricier homes ($119K more) · more homeowners
Sheridan, OR 97378 73%559$79,746$372,600$277 cheaper homes ($72K less) · 10 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Sweet Home, OR 97386 73%505$64,669$331,600$262 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger · more homeowners
Hartsville, TN 37074 72%1,917$71,914$329,600$214 cheaper homes ($115K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Molalla, OR 97038 72%553$89,564$483,500$314 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · younger residents
Hayes, VA 23072 71%2,425$74,559$311,500$224 cheaper homes ($133K less) · more homeowners
Mill Spring, NC 28756 71%2,153$63,663$277,600$330 cheaper homes ($167K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Emmett, ID 83617 71%520$65,291$429,100$284 larger · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Youngtown, AZ 85363 71%550$68,321$320,000$214 cheaper homes ($124K less) · 9 min shorter commute · older homes
Las Vegas, NV 89156 71%338$69,767$330,300$219 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger · younger residents
Willamina, OR 97396 71%560$57,614$351,000$245 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Elma, WA 98541 71%688$78,816$390,000$282 cheaper homes ($54K less) · more homeowners
Remington, VA 22734 70%2,336$80,389$373,700$249 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller
Saint Helens, OR 97051 70%606$85,869$412,100$269 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Vernonia, OR 97064 70%609$67,317$383,600$298 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Lebanon, OR 97355 70%516$68,595$371,700$286 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Winchendon, MA 01475 69%2,584$76,552$323,800$251 cheaper homes ($120K less) · more homeowners
Woodbourne, NY 12788 69%2,465$62,768$270,500$312 cheaper homes ($174K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Georgetown, DE 19947 69%2,462$71,229$322,300$196 cheaper homes ($122K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Reddick, FL 32686 69%2,286$49,821$334,100$257 cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Tacoma, WA 98445 69%690$92,520$444,800$282 higher income ($27K more) · larger · more homeowners
Monroe, GA 30655 68%2,098$69,148$326,800$197 cheaper homes ($117K less) · larger · 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.