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 Mendocino, CA 95460

Mendocino: median income $73,576, home value $708,200, $654/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Harpswell, ME 04079 81%2,749$91,969$612,400$500 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger
Arroyo Seco, NM 87514 81%1,011$71,556$545,200$432 cheaper homes ($163K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Pocasset, MA 02559 80%2,753$90,855$625,400$413 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Lavallette, NJ 08735 79%2,609$76,974$872,300$1,003 pricier homes ($164K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Harrison, ID 83833 78%666$81,568$562,100$652 cheaper homes ($146K less) · smaller · younger residents
South Dennis, MA 02660 77%2,775$93,386$559,600$549 cheaper homes ($149K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Yachats, OR 97498 77%346$67,188$511,500$405 cheaper homes ($197K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Edisto Island, SC 29438 74%2,452$86,979$642,400$452 cheaper homes ($66K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Grand Lake, CO 80447 74%952$96,000$632,400$444 cheaper homes ($76K less) · younger residents
Seaside Park, NJ 08752 73%2,610$78,750$802,300$732 pricier homes ($94K more) · 6 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
East Quogue, NY 11942 73%2,669$93,710$844,100$675 pricier homes ($136K more) · larger · younger residents
Highlands, NC 28741 73%2,233$70,392$631,000$625 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · 13 min shorter commute
Lopez Island, WA 98261 73%636$80,119$787,800$760 pricier homes ($80K more) · 11 min shorter commute
Kewadin, MI 49648 72%1,987$93,272$633,500$414 cheaper homes ($75K less) · younger residents
Greenbank, WA 98253 72%610$71,131$789,800$542 pricier homes ($82K more) · 9 min longer commute · more homeowners
Chatham, MA 02633 71%2,785$85,483$946,100$690 pricier homes ($238K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Islamorada, FL 33036 71%2,683$86,032$1,017,400$728 pricier homes ($309K more) · larger · younger residents
Langley, WA 98260 71%605$101,987$678,400$487 higher income ($28K more) · cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
West Dennis, MA 02670 70%2,776$87,019$714,100$603 smaller · 8 min shorter commute · more walkable
Oxford, MD 21654 70%2,527$82,772$840,000$465 pricier homes ($132K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Saint Michaels, MD 21663 70%2,522$89,775$650,500$438 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · younger residents
New Buffalo, MI 49117 70%1,936$75,114$488,000$351 cheaper homes ($220K less) · larger · younger residents
Red Lodge, MT 59068 70%844$80,962$438,700$366 cheaper homes ($270K less) · larger · younger residents
Sedona, AZ 86351 70%731$81,203$738,000$432 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Lamy, NM 87540 70%1,013$52,500$729,700$400 smaller · more renters

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.