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 Ferndale, CA 95536

Ferndale: median income $73,375, home value $566,000, $336/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stanfordville, NY 12581 89%2,591$80,640$412,200$314 cheaper homes ($154K less) · smaller
Bingen, WA 98605 80%386$72,917$421,700$338 cheaper homes ($144K less) · smaller · younger residents
Rockfall, CT 06481 79%2,647$84,674$360,400$272 cheaper homes ($206K less) · smaller
Aurora, OR 97002 79%333$70,137$530,100$339 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · more homeowners
West Yarmouth, MA 02673 77%2,767$73,854$502,200$411 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · more homeowners
Bantam, CT 06750 76%2,616$85,000$328,700$320 cheaper homes ($237K less) · smaller · younger residents
Ocean Gate, NJ 08740 76%2,607$69,397$358,000$374 cheaper homes ($208K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Carson, WA 98610 76%381$72,773$501,600$385 cheaper homes ($64K less) · newer homes
East Brookfield, MA 01515 75%2,666$81,042$381,200$286 cheaper homes ($185K less) · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Palisade, CO 81526 75%848$87,500$501,800$337 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · newer homes
Wareham, MA 02571 74%2,741$94,265$441,900$420 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger · more homeowners
South Yarmouth, MA 02664 74%2,768$82,125$551,400$474 larger · more homeowners · newer homes
Meredith, NH 03253 74%2,668$84,719$482,700$354 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · newer homes
North Grosvenordale, CT 06255 74%2,678$88,750$312,200$284 cheaper homes ($254K less) · more homeowners
New Buffalo, MI 49117 74%1,937$75,114$488,000$351 cheaper homes ($78K less) · older residents · newer homes
Hillsdale, NY 12529 73%2,593$70,750$384,600$334 cheaper homes ($181K less)
Dennis Port, MA 02639 72%2,772$72,567$514,200$667 cheaper homes ($52K less) · more walkable
South Dartmouth, MA 02748 72%2,731$97,361$521,800$377 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Germantown, NY 12526 72%2,578$97,679$485,000$361 cheaper homes ($81K less) · more homeowners
Darby, MT 59829 72%632$63,650$437,900$315 cheaper homes ($128K less) · newer homes
Cascade Locks, OR 97014 72%375$75,000$387,700$246 cheaper homes ($178K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Walpole, NH 03608 71%2,633$88,224$355,600$219 cheaper homes ($210K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Bridport, VT 05734 71%2,573$81,250$358,600$329 cheaper homes ($207K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Lake George, NY 12845 71%2,565$100,774$355,900$325 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($210K less) · newer homes
Livingston, MT 59047 71%775$71,620$456,800$325 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger · younger residents

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.