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 Jackson, CA 95642

Jackson: median income $81,438, home value $456,100, $263/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Palisade, CO 81526 88%669$87,500$501,800$337 pricier homes ($46K more)
Belvidere, NJ 07823 87%2,412$85,522$322,000$224 cheaper homes ($134K less) · older homes
Johnson City, TX 78636 86%1,389$72,663$532,600$263 pricier homes ($77K more) · smaller
Aurora, OR 97002 86%486$70,137$530,100$339 pricier homes ($74K more)
Gold Hill, OR 97525 86%307$72,025$450,200$246 Very close on everything we compare
Montesano, WA 98563 86%619$84,634$349,200$230 cheaper homes ($107K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Bristol, NH 03222 85%2,544$81,587$313,000$348 cheaper homes ($143K less)
Sheridan, OR 97378 85%485$79,746$372,600$277 cheaper homes ($84K less) · younger residents
Spencer, MA 01562 84%2,549$80,533$382,000$269 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Milton, NY 12547 84%2,456$88,778$377,200$255 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller · younger residents
Oxford, FL 34484 84%2,301$92,582$433,300$198 newer homes
Dolores, CO 81323 84%672$75,393$392,000$291 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Rainier, OR 97048 84%545$77,171$368,600$235 cheaper homes ($88K less) · younger residents
Veneta, OR 97487 84%415$65,625$414,700$296 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Calverton, NY 11933 83%2,529$74,195$444,100$400 more homeowners
Saint Croix Falls, WI 54024 83%1,520$75,417$271,900$221 cheaper homes ($184K less)
Kersey, CO 80644 83%877$97,847$409,100$276 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Brownsville, OR 97327 83%431$81,267$396,200$241 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller · younger residents
Prineville, OR 97754 83%411$77,199$444,200$278 larger · younger residents
Elma, WA 98541 83%613$78,816$390,000$282 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · younger residents
Carson, WA 98610 83%514$72,773$501,600$385 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller
Tilton, NH 03276 82%2,555$82,425$272,700$250 cheaper homes ($183K less) · younger residents
Jewett City, CT 06351 82%2,558$82,976$294,400$255 cheaper homes ($162K less) · larger · more homeowners
Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215 82%2,453$80,893$286,500$220 cheaper homes ($170K less) · larger
Merritt Island, FL 32953 82%2,390$87,262$419,200$225 cheaper homes ($37K 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.