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 Hilmar, CA 95324

Hilmar: median income $76,316, home value $462,900, $331/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kaunakakai, HI 96748 85%2,430$77,422$386,500$399 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Brewster, WA 98812 83%743$59,297$354,500$273 cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller
Burlington, WA 98233 82%769$87,614$502,100$348 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Mount Angel, OR 97362 80%539$66,250$462,400$287 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Sheridan, OR 97378 80%547$79,746$372,600$277 cheaper homes ($90K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Sumas, WA 98295 80%802$98,965$456,200$296 smaller · 7 min longer commute
Tillamook, OR 97141 79%577$69,831$398,100$335 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · older residents
Stayton, OR 97383 79%521$78,853$423,600$288 cheaper homes ($39K less) · more homeowners
Madras, OR 97741 78%500$70,983$334,800$247 cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger · more homeowners
Spokane, WA 99217 77%737$73,620$377,400$232 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger · more homeowners
Heyburn, ID 83336 76%518$71,191$298,800$219 cheaper homes ($164K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Parma, ID 83660 76%487$63,653$417,900$226 cheaper homes ($45K less) · more homeowners
Carson City, NV 89701 76%136$73,184$444,500$299 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Warrenton, OR 97146 76%624$82,936$463,800$313 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Grandview, WA 98930 76%614$64,583$303,500$251 cheaper homes ($159K less) · larger · younger residents
Prosser, WA 99350 76%612$81,014$338,500$244 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger · younger residents
Naples, FL 34116 75%2,407$73,958$430,200$311 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 75%765$76,717$492,300$331 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Kelso, WA 98626 75%613$75,528$368,900$269 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · more homeowners
Bowling Green, VA 22427 74%2,366$81,488$315,700$214 cheaper homes ($147K less) · smaller
Wendell, ID 83355 74%493$65,764$283,300$227 cheaper homes ($180K less) · more homeowners
Bonners Ferry, ID 83805 74%815$70,083$418,900$292 cheaper homes ($44K less) · more homeowners
Quincy, WA 98848 74%679$87,714$357,500$281 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger · more homeowners
East Earl, PA 17519 73%2,398$96,250$330,400$196 cheaper homes ($133K less) · more homeowners
Marsing, ID 83639 73%474$64,042$461,900$289 smaller · 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.