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 Chico, CA 95926

Chico: median income $61,920, home value $473,600, $286/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Moscow, ID 83843 91%541$59,444$380,600$257 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller
Logan, UT 84321 88%542$69,148$400,500$215 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Fayetteville, AR 72703 86%1,523$60,568$391,000$240 cheaper homes ($83K less) · older residents · newer homes
Athens, GA 30606 85%2,145$63,328$362,500$201 cheaper homes ($111K less) · older residents
Fayetteville, AR 72701 85%1,525$55,506$355,300$218 cheaper homes ($118K less) · newer homes
Bellingham, WA 98225 84%623$63,941$631,200$458 pricier homes ($158K more)
Ellensburg, WA 98926 83%506$71,137$470,300$264 more homeowners · newer homes
Blacksburg, VA 24060 81%2,226$67,675$447,600$237 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Athens, GA 30605 81%2,149$50,062$314,200$203 cheaper homes ($159K less)
Nashville, TN 37211 81%1,919$71,399$406,100$244 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · older residents
Laramie, WY 82070 81%849$69,095$338,500$216 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Provo, UT 84601 81%539$67,207$403,500$249 cheaper homes ($70K less) · more walkable
Reno, NV 89503 81%108$66,743$467,200$298 older residents · more walkable
Boone, NC 28607 80%2,183$46,639$378,600$314 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Provo, UT 84604 79%540$75,571$582,000$250 pricier homes ($108K more) · more walkable
Storrs Mansfield, CT 06268 78%2,563$55,219$348,600$220 cheaper homes ($125K less) · smaller · younger residents
Whitewater, WI 53190 78%1,721$66,069$265,100$222 cheaper homes ($209K less) · smaller
Baton Rouge, LA 70806 78%1,840$55,642$325,100$172 cheaper homes ($149K less) · older residents
Laramie, WY 82072 78%865$53,863$324,100$200 cheaper homes ($150K less) · smaller
Logan, UT 84341 78%543$69,310$465,700$203 smaller · newer homes
Murfreesboro, TN 37130 77%1,942$62,706$371,800$207 cheaper homes ($102K less) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Charlottesville, VA 22903 76%2,312$69,340$526,200$304 pricier homes ($53K more) · more walkable
Henrico, VA 23294 76%2,369$64,164$294,500$223 cheaper homes ($179K less) · smaller
Newport News, VA 23606 76%2,436$72,874$327,200$205 cheaper homes ($146K less) · older residents · more walkable
Birmingham, AL 35209 76%1,978$71,439$504,600$311 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents · more walkable

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.