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.

Reset

Towns most like Smith River, CA 95567

Smith River: median income $102,734, home value $373,100, $221/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Seadrift, TX 77983 86%1,799$97,850$292,000$219 cheaper homes ($81K less) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Port Republic, VA 24471 85%2,382$97,396$395,500$227 6 min longer commute
Woodward, IA 50276 85%1,548$91,827$289,000$244 cheaper homes ($84K less)
East Earl, PA 17519 84%2,478$96,250$330,400$196 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Nicollet, MN 56074 81%1,512$92,813$293,700$160 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Afton, WY 83110 80%677$86,731$381,100$250 larger
Pateros, WA 98846 80%468$84,464$338,200$276 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 8 min longer commute
Vernon, VT 05354 79%2,596$85,682$285,100$204 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Dane, WI 53529 79%1,752$107,560$392,700$208 5 min longer commute
Van Dyne, WI 54979 79%1,795$109,868$295,000$262 cheaper homes ($78K less) · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Lennox, SD 57039 79%1,384$83,787$290,400$230 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Gap, PA 17527 78%2,483$94,788$324,900$175 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Paradise, PA 17562 78%2,478$108,462$390,600$212 larger · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Stevens, PA 17578 78%2,470$81,990$314,900$196 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Wanchese, NC 27981 78%2,607$88,750$311,800$185 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Sugarcreek, OH 44681 78%2,188$85,769$316,600$194 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · younger residents
Clear Lake, WI 54005 78%1,601$87,813$274,300$206 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Medford, MN 55049 78%1,559$90,625$247,800$166 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Evansville, WY 82636 78%918$86,638$299,300$188 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Moosup, CT 06354 77%2,648$87,711$298,600$228 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Allenton, WI 53002 77%1,807$117,500$332,900$214 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 10 min longer commute
Orangeville, UT 84537 77%712$90,086$246,200$136 cheaper homes ($127K less)
Dufur, OR 97021 77%282$89,500$412,600$280 pricier homes ($40K more)
Harrisburg, OR 97446 77%169$78,229$339,300$289 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Touchet, WA 99360 77%396$93,036$454,500$263 pricier homes ($81K more) · smaller · 7 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.