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 Garden Valley, CA 95633

Garden Valley: median income $74,258, home value $434,200, $304/sq ft, 41-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Alberton, MT 59820 92%646$69,091$367,400$285 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Monroe, OR 97456 92%398$71,111$407,700$327 cheaper homes ($27K less) · more renters
Toledo, WA 98591 92%533$78,952$471,100$324 pricier homes ($37K more)
Vernonia, OR 97064 91%498$67,317$383,600$298 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Colton, OR 97017 90%442$83,355$610,300$323 pricier homes ($176K more)
Vader, WA 98593 90%531$84,244$343,800$273 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller
Idaho City, ID 83631 89%437$80,714$409,800$264 7 min shorter commute
Entiat, WA 98822 89%611$86,103$383,600$340 cheaper homes ($51K less) · 7 min shorter commute
East Waterboro, ME 04030 88%2,587$72,548$348,400$274 cheaper homes ($86K less) · more single-family homes
Mc Clellanville, SC 29458 88%2,325$86,431$370,900$337 cheaper homes ($63K less) · older residents
Deary, ID 83823 88%591$78,345$409,300$225 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Readyville, TN 37149 87%1,902$78,345$402,900$268 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more single-family homes
Bridgton, ME 04009 86%2,580$78,021$317,100$325 cheaper homes ($117K less) · larger
Sebago, ME 04029 86%2,584$77,813$300,000$343 cheaper homes ($134K less)
Rogue River, OR 97537 86%278$65,849$397,600$256 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · more renters
Moncure, NC 27559 85%2,288$74,490$385,000$233 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older residents
Platteville, CO 80651 85%859$81,586$474,700$277 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Spirit Lake, ID 83869 85%660$67,099$466,000$368 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · newer homes
Loon Lake, WA 99148 85%657$67,431$429,900$336 older residents
Naples, ME 04055 84%2,587$78,188$340,100$334 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · older residents
Meansville, GA 30256 84%2,069$73,571$299,000$200 cheaper homes ($135K less)
Bates City, MO 64011 84%1,434$82,981$377,100$200 cheaper homes ($57K less) · newer homes
Calhan, CO 80808 84%886$85,500$411,100$235 larger
Melba, ID 83641 84%384$84,730$425,700$296 larger · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Priest River, ID 83856 84%672$75,285$427,900$333 larger · older residents · 7 min shorter 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.