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 Thornton, CA 95686

Thornton: median income $52,109, home value $448,900, $391/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Falls City, OR 97344 78%471$59,000$320,700— cheaper homes ($128K less) · more homeowners
Mill City, OR 97360 78%454$67,250$310,100$278 cheaper homes ($139K less) · larger · more homeowners
Saint Ignatius, MT 59865 77%730$56,473$345,300$394 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger · more homeowners
Greenleaf, ID 83626 75%446$69,531$353,900$410 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · more homeowners
Dexter, OR 97431 75%400$60,714$354,800$342 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger · more homeowners
Plummer, ID 83851 74%670$57,356$251,200$290 cheaper homes ($198K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Warren, MA 01083 73%2,576$64,032$364,800$278 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Arlee, MT 59821 73%722$66,458$375,200$312 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · more homeowners
Cloverdale, OR 97112 73%503$61,061$411,500$415 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · older residents
Drain, OR 97435 73%390$52,067$315,100$270 cheaper homes ($134K less) · larger · older residents
Drumore, PA 17518 72%2,401$64,875$381,900$274 cheaper homes ($67K less) · more homeowners
Saint Meinrad, IN 47577 72%1,868$52,208$250,800— cheaper homes ($198K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Hansen, ID 83334 71%478$64,583$272,800$235 cheaper homes ($176K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Tuckasegee, NC 28783 70%2,118$51,350$290,900$271 cheaper homes ($158K less) · larger · older residents
Reddick, FL 32686 70%2,313$49,821$334,100$257 cheaper homes ($115K less) · larger · newer homes
Marsing, ID 83639 70%439$64,042$461,900$289 larger · more homeowners · newer homes
Willamina, OR 97396 70%486$57,614$351,000$245 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · older residents
Pingree, ID 83262 68%572$59,900$334,100$221 cheaper homes ($115K less) · more homeowners
Murtaugh, ID 83344 68%482$65,417$425,800$279 younger residents · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Peshastin, WA 98847 68%645$68,814$380,100$359 cheaper homes ($69K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Eckert, CO 81418 67%728$54,417$266,000$203 cheaper homes ($183K less) · larger · more homeowners
Pepeekeo, HI 96783 67%2,379$77,391$498,500$370 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Mount Angel, OR 97362 67%478$66,250$462,400$287 larger · 5 min shorter commute · more walkable
Malin, OR 97632 67%262$44,167$273,400$206 cheaper homes ($176K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Darrington, WA 98241 67%692$73,185$395,000$278 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · older 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.