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 Laytonville, CA 95454

Laytonville: median income $42,447, home value $393,700, $140/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cotter, AR 72626 81%1,694$36,417$266,000$161 cheaper homes ($128K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Kelso, TN 37348 79%2,042$39,542$266,200$202 cheaper homes ($128K less) · smaller · newer homes
Shirleysburg, PA 17260 77%2,388$45,324$203,100$109 cheaper homes ($191K less) · smaller
Millboro, VA 24460 76%2,333$46,711$200,400$151 cheaper homes ($193K less) · 6 min longer commute
Edgemont, AR 72044 76%1,728$47,213$260,800$200 cheaper homes ($133K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Union, WV 24983 75%2,302$51,667$219,900$126 cheaper homes ($174K less)
Allons, TN 38541 74%2,072$41,151$220,900$256 cheaper homes ($173K less)
New Paris, PA 15554 73%2,353$50,500$273,000$149 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Kinsale, VA 22488 73%2,497$45,313$431,300$232 pricier homes ($38K more) · 6 min longer commute
Meadows Of Dan, VA 24120 73%2,326$46,901$205,200$220 cheaper homes ($189K less) · older homes
Glade Valley, NC 28627 73%2,300$46,474$246,400$212 cheaper homes ($147K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Annapolis, MO 63620 73%1,771$42,426$202,600$155 cheaper homes ($191K less) · smaller · younger residents
Glendale, OR 97442 73%214$46,979$273,500$195 cheaper homes ($120K less) · younger residents
Alum Bank, PA 15521 72%2,352$53,947$209,700$158 cheaper homes ($184K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Bridger, MT 59014 72%837$55,234$306,800$153 cheaper homes ($87K less) · younger residents
Troy, MT 59935 72%716$39,712$371,400$307 larger · younger residents
Kooskia, ID 83539 72%587$57,885$347,500$260 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Westover, MD 21871 71%2,540$50,524$185,900$189 cheaper homes ($208K less)
Sharon, SC 29742 71%2,317$52,775$218,100$120 cheaper homes ($176K less) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Weston, CO 81091 71%1,023$50,179$351,900$218 cheaper homes ($42K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Osage, MN 56570 70%1,497$61,042$315,700$143 cheaper homes ($78K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Spring Church, PA 15686 69%2,302$49,977$227,100$182 cheaper homes ($167K less) · smaller · younger residents
Mehoopany, PA 18629 69%2,458$59,464$222,500$87 cheaper homes ($171K less)
Hillman, MI 49746 69%2,032$47,432$164,400$125 cheaper homes ($229K less) · larger
Bigfork, MN 56628 69%1,579$61,250$244,700$189 cheaper homes ($149K less)

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.