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 Potter Valley, CA 95469

Potter Valley: median income $82,683, home value $529,200, $326/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Temple, NH 03084 92%2,636$94,107$401,000$293 cheaper homes ($128K less)
Georgetown, ME 04548 89%2,724$84,250$427,200$321 cheaper homes ($102K less)
Semora, NC 27343 89%2,380$79,931$518,800$465 Very close on everything we compare
Milton, TN 37118 88%2,018$74,592$478,300$318 cheaper homes ($51K less) · 5 min longer commute
Hawi, HI 96719 87%2,348$79,471$612,100— pricier homes ($83K more) · larger · younger residents
Bath, NC 27808 86%2,527$90,472$372,500$295 cheaper homes ($157K less) · larger
Graford, TX 76449 86%1,445$72,813$398,700$299 cheaper homes ($131K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
New Hampton, NH 03256 85%2,634$87,917$382,000$353 cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger · more homeowners
Boyce, VA 22620 85%2,385$99,896$539,300$224 larger
Greenfield, NH 03047 84%2,633$103,603$350,300$298 cheaper homes ($179K less)
Bridport, VT 05734 84%2,546$81,250$358,600$329 cheaper homes ($171K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Cove, OR 97824 84%489$80,263$413,700$267 cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Wilmington, NY 12997 83%2,517$82,344$322,600$331 cheaper homes ($207K less) · younger residents
Divide, CO 80814 83%956$80,500$466,800$254 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Hesperus, CO 81326 83%824$80,089$558,600$413 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Thayne, WY 83127 83%672$87,743$482,700$325 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · newer homes
Merlin, OR 97532 83%218$81,167$445,400$281 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Point Roberts, WA 98281 83%663$78,125$483,900$270 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older residents
Deltaville, VA 23043 82%2,502$70,625$420,600$315 cheaper homes ($109K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Vergas, MN 56587 82%1,457$88,000$367,600$290 cheaper homes ($162K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Cascade, MT 59421 82%788$78,125$377,900$267 cheaper homes ($151K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Bonner, MT 59823 82%694$82,813$474,100$349 cheaper homes ($55K less) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Hunt, TX 78024 82%1,482$105,381$500,000$288 cheaper homes ($29K less) · newer homes
Whitewater, CO 81527 82%785$76,815$425,600$328 cheaper homes ($104K less) · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Stevenson, WA 98648 82%439$96,696$555,500$380 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · more 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.