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 Sonora, CA 95370

Sonora: median income $82,990, home value $448,400, $255/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Old Hickory, TN 37138 91%1,852$85,149$363,000$233 cheaper homes ($85K less) · younger residents
Riverhead, NY 11901 90%2,520$85,061$453,800$397 Very close on everything we compare
Burlington, WI 53105 89%1,709$88,770$318,500$227 cheaper homes ($130K less)
Dallas, OR 97338 89%503$78,858$424,400$284 younger residents
Prineville, OR 97754 89%437$77,199$444,200$278 younger residents · newer homes
Easton, MD 21601 88%2,374$83,680$376,400$232 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Merritt Island, FL 32953 88%2,365$87,262$419,200$225 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more walkable
Middleboro, MA 02346 87%2,597$97,056$468,700$299 younger residents
Mount Dora, FL 32757 87%2,303$77,216$370,800$216 cheaper homes ($78K less)
West Bend, WI 53095 87%1,714$80,830$305,400$207 cheaper homes ($143K less)
Elkhorn, WI 53121 87%1,695$85,643$313,500$222 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller · younger residents
Lake Geneva, WI 53147 87%1,699$83,566$369,100$287 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller
Chehalis, WA 98532 87%612$89,910$427,100$286 younger residents
Goodlettsville, TN 37072 86%1,844$78,123$378,100$221 cheaper homes ($70K less) · younger residents
Hartford, WI 53027 86%1,704$91,150$332,500$222 cheaper homes ($116K less) · younger residents
Burnet, TX 78611 86%1,350$80,938$319,300$212 cheaper homes ($129K less) · smaller
Emmett, ID 83617 86%455$65,291$429,100$284 younger residents
Silverton, OR 97381 86%499$89,383$539,600$313 pricier homes ($91K more) · smaller · younger residents
Jewett City, CT 06351 85%2,545$82,976$294,400$255 cheaper homes ($154K less) · smaller
Henrico, VA 23231 85%2,325$76,505$297,800$224 cheaper homes ($151K less) · younger residents
Seffner, FL 33584 85%2,293$72,267$311,300$214 cheaper homes ($137K less) · younger residents
Maryville, TN 37803 85%2,004$83,446$356,100$225 cheaper homes ($92K less) · more homeowners
Cottage Grove, OR 97424 85%424$79,688$372,500$275 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller · younger residents
Blaine, WA 98230 85%767$86,623$499,800$316 pricier homes ($51K more) · smaller · newer homes
Hammonton, NJ 08037 84%2,429$81,312$322,900$231 cheaper homes ($126K less) · younger residents

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.