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 Hidden Valley Lake, CA 95467

Hidden Valley Lake: median income $84,152, home value $393,100, $212/sq ft, 43-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waretown, NJ 08758 91%2,554$96,900$486,300$266 pricier homes ($93K more)
Cross Junction, VA 22625 91%2,348$95,515$361,900$209 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · less walkable
Florissant, CO 80816 91%926$75,472$418,200$252 pricier homes ($25K more)
Montross, VA 22520 89%2,450$71,487$286,400$230 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Bentonville, VA 22610 88%2,359$81,500$337,700$246 cheaper homes ($55K less) · smaller
Joelton, TN 37080 88%1,946$87,963$333,700$232 cheaper homes ($59K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Divide, CO 80814 88%931$80,500$466,800$254 pricier homes ($74K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Saylorsburg, PA 18353 86%2,476$79,071$288,200$183 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger
Lanexa, VA 23089 85%2,457$108,802$400,600$252 6 min shorter commute
Mineral, VA 23117 85%2,395$89,241$301,400$264 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Albrightsville, PA 18210 84%2,464$70,683$231,600$210 cheaper homes ($162K less)
Street, MD 21154 84%2,444$97,658$455,400$257 pricier homes ($62K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Heathsville, VA 22473 84%2,473$68,021$261,700$260 cheaper homes ($131K less)
Rossville, TN 38066 84%1,829$107,660$377,900$200 smaller
Sharpsburg, MD 21782 83%2,376$94,130$311,600$207 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Florence, MT 59833 83%689$94,097$551,600$333 pricier homes ($159K more)
Thayne, WY 83127 83%666$87,743$482,700$325 pricier homes ($90K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Limington, ME 04049 82%2,671$84,675$295,600$257 cheaper homes ($98K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Effort, PA 18330 82%2,471$93,733$291,600$183 cheaper homes ($102K less) · younger residents
Buckhead, GA 30625 82%2,199$88,534$389,100$192 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Damon, TX 77430 82%1,663$85,364$309,600$199 cheaper homes ($84K less) · smaller
Allyn, WA 98524 82%591$99,483$526,800$306 pricier homes ($134K more)
Alton, NH 03809 81%2,647$106,397$387,500$270 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Naples, ME 04055 81%2,671$78,188$340,100$334 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Fairfield, PA 17320 81%2,391$90,076$295,000$174 cheaper homes ($98K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute

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.