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 Tuolumne, CA 95379

Tuolumne: median income $74,230, home value $416,000, $266/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Shelbyville, MI 49344 92%1,839$84,661$313,400$307 cheaper homes ($103K less)
Big Timber, MT 59011 90%756$78,000$328,100$211 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Easton, KS 66020 90%1,355$78,594$320,100— cheaper homes ($96K less) · smaller
Hanover, VA 23069 89%2,319$83,453$356,400$274 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Hilbert, WI 54129 89%1,711$67,381$279,700$208 cheaper homes ($136K less)
Wallowa, OR 97885 89%543$76,645$402,900$234 smaller
Hinsdale, MA 01235 88%2,476$79,327$267,500$280 cheaper homes ($149K less)
Bernardston, MA 01337 88%2,498$85,045$338,800$233 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Goode, VA 24556 88%2,215$87,250$399,000$204 Very close on everything we compare
Bath, NC 27808 88%2,392$90,472$372,500$295 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Neosho, WI 53059 88%1,692$91,114$342,800$232 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller
Caledonia, WI 53108 88%1,722$86,679$296,800$233 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Turtle Lake, WI 54889 88%1,527$77,143$257,100$288 cheaper homes ($159K less)
Pelican Rapids, MN 56572 88%1,364$79,475$298,800$226 cheaper homes ($117K less) · larger
Underwood, MN 56586 88%1,369$79,583$309,800$268 cheaper homes ($106K less) · smaller
Cascade, MT 59421 88%775$78,125$377,900$267 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Darby, MT 59829 88%637$63,650$437,900$315 smaller
Cascade, ID 83611 88%522$77,411$429,400$335 Very close on everything we compare
Cascade Locks, OR 97014 88%539$75,000$387,700$246 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Otis Orchards, WA 99027 88%691$74,718$444,500$228 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Darlington, MD 21034 87%2,348$78,047$401,500$218 6 min longer commute
Madison, VA 22727 87%2,258$84,857$379,900$228 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Julian, NC 27283 87%2,228$90,402$290,700$251 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Union, MI 49130 87%1,830$76,667$341,900$245 cheaper homes ($74K less) · smaller
Joliet, MT 59041 87%777$80,500$411,700$189 smaller

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.