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 Fort Dick, CA 95538

Fort Dick: median income $67,024, home value $292,900, 12-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Thompson Falls, MT 59873 81%585$60,000$305,900$277 larger
Pioche, NV 89043 78%585$88,938$220,000$244 cheaper homes ($73K less) · younger residents
Saint James City, FL 33956 76%2,595$69,534$318,200$410 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Ahwahnee, CA 93601 76%388$76,555$434,900$241 pricier homes ($142K more) · 7 min longer commute
Drummond Island, MI 49726 74%2,009$67,232$273,200— 10 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Cape Fair, MO 65624 72%1,664$61,995$237,500$136 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · 12 min longer commute
Lakeview, AR 72642 72%1,726$68,810$224,100$138 cheaper homes ($69K less) · 10 min longer commute · more renters
Dove Creek, CO 81324 72%855$71,630$223,100— cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · younger residents
Republic, WA 99166 71%539$56,676$286,000$233 larger · younger residents · more renters
Ione, WA 99139 70%576$52,404$274,100$143 younger residents · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Phelps, WI 54554 69%1,753$63,750$247,300$289 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 8 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Lampe, MO 65681 69%1,674$57,548$214,800$228 cheaper homes ($78K less) · 9 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Saint Germain, WI 54558 68%1,734$59,718$261,000$345 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · younger residents
Nehalem, OR 97131 68%267$70,833$459,000$356 pricier homes ($166K more) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Penrose, NC 28766 66%2,267$57,708$307,000$252 younger residents · 9 min longer commute · more renters
Lincoln, MT 59639 66%666$57,778$371,700$418 pricier homes ($79K more) · older homes
Fort Davis, TX 79734 66%1,363$65,227$241,300— cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · younger residents
Council, ID 83612 66%435$54,810$309,600$257 larger · more renters · more single-family homes
Gold Beach, OR 97444 66%40$64,920$402,700$296 pricier homes ($110K more) · larger · more renters
Counce, TN 38326 65%1,981$49,026$191,900$173 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Kingston, ID 83839 65%550$63,889$384,400$257 pricier homes ($92K more) · younger residents · 11 min longer commute
Lakeside, OR 97449 65%119$66,000$316,700$272 larger · 13 min longer commute
Greenville, ME 04441 62%2,686$64,789$291,900$361 larger · more renters · more single-family homes
Austin, CO 81410 62%877$67,826$366,700$213 pricier homes ($74K more) · 13 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Asotin, WA 99402 62%461$78,906$339,800$197 pricier homes ($47K more) · younger residents · 8 min longer 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.