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 Arcata, CA 95521

Arcata: median income $53,114, home value $501,000, $340/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Reno, NV 89503 84%242$66,743$467,200$298 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Wilmington, NC 28403 83%2,542$54,547$386,700$277 cheaper homes ($114K less) · larger · newer homes
Eugene, OR 97403 83%225$45,417$592,200$330 pricier homes ($91K more) · younger residents
Bellingham, WA 98225 83%550$63,941$631,200$458 pricier homes ($130K more) · larger
Missoula, MT 59801 82%648$58,347$442,400$345 cheaper homes ($59K less) · more walkable
Fayetteville, AR 72703 82%1,642$60,568$391,000$240 cheaper homes ($110K less) · larger · newer homes
Corvallis, OR 97333 82%256$65,191$511,100$351 newer homes
Missoula, MT 59802 81%651$67,736$461,700$351 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents
Fort Collins, CO 80521 81%992$58,082$564,900$378 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · younger residents
Albuquerque, NM 87106 81%1,029$49,781$354,200$242 cheaper homes ($147K less) · older homes
Moscow, ID 83843 80%537$59,444$380,600$257 cheaper homes ($120K less) · less walkable
Birmingham, AL 35209 79%2,098$71,439$504,600$311 Very close on everything we compare
Boone, NC 28607 78%2,292$46,639$378,600$314 cheaper homes ($122K less) · larger · younger residents
Eugene, OR 97401 78%226$52,022$494,100$328 larger · more apartments and townhomes · more walkable
Charlottesville, VA 22903 77%2,412$69,340$526,200$304 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Richmond, VA 23225 76%2,475$62,949$313,300$265 cheaper homes ($188K less) · larger · older residents
Colorado Springs, CO 80905 76%1,028$63,281$379,000$264 cheaper homes ($122K less) · older residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84115 76%637$65,548$434,700$306 cheaper homes ($66K less) · more apartments and townhomes · more walkable
Provo, UT 84601 76%652$67,207$403,500$249 cheaper homes ($98K less) · newer homes
Corvallis, OR 97330 76%260$70,742$526,800$320 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · older residents
Bloomington, IN 47408 75%1,977$45,644$346,900$188 cheaper homes ($154K less) · younger residents
Fayetteville, AR 72701 75%1,644$55,506$355,300$218 cheaper homes ($146K less) · larger · newer homes
Durham, NC 27701 74%2,441$69,740$508,900$346 older residents · more walkable
Charlotte, NC 28205 74%2,363$75,622$457,200$356 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · older residents
Nashville, TN 37210 74%2,029$50,284$355,600$315 cheaper homes ($145K less) · 6 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes

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.