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 El Dorado, CA 95623

El Dorado: median income $109,102, home value $601,800, $335/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Olalla, WA 98359 95%614$114,091$610,500$388 Very close on everything we compare
Gaston, OR 97119 94%485$115,515$629,000$300 pricier homes ($27K more)
Amissville, VA 20106 92%2,289$108,469$521,900$281 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Boring, OR 97009 91%476$106,650$647,500$335 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Street, MD 21154 90%2,360$97,658$455,400$257 cheaper homes ($146K less)
Captain Cook, HI 96704 90%2,475$86,941$662,200$294 pricier homes ($60K more)
Beavercreek, OR 97004 90%465$112,667$721,300$425 pricier homes ($120K more)
Gig Harbor, WA 98329 90%611$110,316$518,700$356 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger
Tacoma, WA 98443 90%597$105,035$519,100$320 cheaper homes ($83K less) · older homes
Fremont, NH 03044 89%2,580$120,781$416,900$325 cheaper homes ($185K less)
Seabeck, WA 98380 89%627$125,229$578,900$341 younger residents
Stevenson, WA 98648 89%490$96,696$555,500$380 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more walkable
Newman Lake, WA 99025 89%656$118,712$517,100$251 cheaper homes ($85K less) · more homeowners
Rochester, MA 02770 88%2,610$120,320$601,200$348 Very close on everything we compare
North Berwick, ME 03906 88%2,595$105,156$432,900$325 cheaper homes ($169K less) · younger residents
Berryville, VA 22611 88%2,284$120,381$580,200$226 larger
Midland, VA 22728 88%2,307$120,789$516,300$262 cheaper homes ($86K less) · younger residents
Virginia Beach, VA 23457 88%2,432$116,250$571,000$312 cheaper homes ($31K less) · younger residents
Lakeville, MA 02347 87%2,604$133,984$565,900$358 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
East Freetown, MA 02717 87%2,604$130,625$520,800$336 cheaper homes ($81K less) · younger residents · older homes
Sanbornton, NH 03269 87%2,549$107,083$450,000$319 cheaper homes ($152K less) · smaller · younger residents
Sandown, NH 03873 87%2,577$135,040$483,400$324 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($118K less) · younger residents
Voluntown, CT 06384 87%2,562$106,518$354,900$311 cheaper homes ($247K less) · smaller
Bluemont, VA 20135 87%2,292$114,219$573,500$347 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Lake Helen, FL 32744 87%2,350$112,599$453,700$238 cheaper homes ($148K less) · 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.