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 Lucerne, CA 95458

Lucerne: median income $57,674, home value $249,500, $179/sq ft, 39-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Orange, MA 01364 86%2,611$55,532$247,800$207 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Tappahannock, VA 22560 81%2,455$61,082$246,600$195 larger · less walkable
Hancock, MD 21750 80%2,357$60,625$232,500$166 older residents · less walkable
Greensboro, MD 21639 77%2,493$62,772$269,400$179 younger residents · more single-family homes · less walkable
Woodsville, NH 03785 76%2,603$57,902$244,100$183 smaller · more renters · less walkable
South Bay, FL 33493 75%2,560$53,083$137,000$216 cheaper homes ($113K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Lehigh Acres, FL 33936 75%2,514$51,417$240,300$169 larger
Milford, TX 76670 75%1,521$60,104$216,900$136 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · less walkable
Luling, TX 78648 75%1,567$57,621$217,500$186 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · 11 min shorter commute
Willamina, OR 97396 75%416$57,614$351,000$245 pricier homes ($102K more) · 7 min shorter commute · less walkable
Orleans, VT 05860 74%2,592$64,850$204,500$167 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Federalsburg, MD 21632 74%2,499$61,316$216,000$184 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Erin, TN 37061 74%1,917$59,670$187,700$190 cheaper homes ($62K less) · less walkable
Imlay City, MI 48444 74%2,068$71,436$238,900$145 larger · less walkable
Sandstone, MN 55072 74%1,600$58,144$200,500$174 cheaper homes ($49K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Chicago, IL 60633 74%1,850$62,458$186,800$177 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · younger residents
Sweet Home, OR 97386 74%368$64,669$331,600$262 pricier homes ($82K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Yoncalla, OR 97499 74%314$58,958$325,700$205 pricier homes ($76K more) · smaller · older residents
Norway, ME 04268 73%2,674$54,342$215,800$239 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older residents · less walkable
Stanley, VA 22851 73%2,360$53,329$187,500$205 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Waco, GA 30182 73%2,107$60,184$253,100$165 6 min shorter commute · less walkable · newer homes
Cleveland, AL 35049 73%2,028$65,644$190,600$163 cheaper homes ($59K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Waverly, TN 37185 73%1,915$51,314$181,800$192 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · less walkable
Lake City, TN 37769 73%2,108$61,250$183,000$188 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Georgetown, OH 45121 73%2,072$60,188$164,600$185 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger · less walkable

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.