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 Herald, CA 95638

Herald: median income $91,500, home value $713,600, $369/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Eagle Creek, OR 97022 90%491$92,945$630,800$309 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Mulino, OR 97042 90%482$118,045$687,700$341 higher income ($27K more) · cheaper homes ($26K less)
Beavercreek, OR 97004 88%485$112,667$721,300$425 larger
Honokaa, HI 96727 87%2,402$85,777$643,800$451 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Scio, OR 97374 86%450$97,207$560,600$285 cheaper homes ($153K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Elmira, OR 97437 86%415$95,129$517,900$320 cheaper homes ($196K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Olalla, WA 98359 86%634$114,091$610,500$388 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger
Toledo, WA 98591 86%568$78,952$471,100$324 cheaper homes ($243K less) · larger
Collbran, CO 81624 85%716$91,739$472,600$431 cheaper homes ($241K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Captain Cook, HI 96704 85%2,450$86,941$662,200$294 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Oakville, WA 98568 85%599$84,531$426,200$315 cheaper homes ($287K less)
Zirconia, NC 28790 84%2,138$97,042$455,000$259 cheaper homes ($259K less)
Hawi, HI 96719 84%2,413$79,471$612,100— cheaper homes ($102K less)
Kapaau, HI 96755 84%2,411$96,813$722,400$648 Very close on everything we compare
Columbia City, OR 97018 84%530$96,750$460,000$294 cheaper homes ($254K less)
Gaston, OR 97119 84%503$115,515$629,000$300 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger
Cheshire, OR 97419 84%421$80,234$568,900$255 cheaper homes ($145K less) · smaller · older residents
Marcola, OR 97454 84%416$88,700$454,200$321 cheaper homes ($259K less) · smaller
Semora, NC 27343 83%2,293$79,931$518,800$465 cheaper homes ($195K less) · smaller
Boring, OR 97009 83%496$106,650$647,500$335 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Kila, MT 59920 82%753$86,605$722,500$346 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Merlin, OR 97532 82%315$81,167$445,400$281 cheaper homes ($268K less) · older residents
Cordova, MD 21625 81%2,414$83,250$372,200$374 cheaper homes ($341K less)
Bath, NC 27808 81%2,438$90,472$372,500$295 cheaper homes ($341K less)
Priest River, ID 83856 81%714$75,285$427,900$333 cheaper homes ($286K less) · larger

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.