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 95928

Chico: median income $64,949, home value $503,100, $292/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fayetteville, AR 72703 90%1,521$60,568$391,000$240 cheaper homes ($112K less)
Ellensburg, WA 98926 89%507$71,137$470,300$264 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Moscow, ID 83843 88%541$59,444$380,600$257 cheaper homes ($123K less)
Athens, GA 30606 87%2,144$63,328$362,500$201 cheaper homes ($141K less)
Reno, NV 89503 86%106$66,743$467,200$298 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more walkable
Chattanooga, TN 37405 83%2,015$81,337$460,600$297 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Bellingham, WA 98225 83%625$63,941$631,200$458 pricier homes ($128K more)
Logan, UT 84321 82%541$69,148$400,500$215 cheaper homes ($103K less) · younger residents
Nashville, TN 37211 81%1,917$71,399$406,100$244 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Knoxville, TN 37909 81%2,063$66,984$312,500$223 cheaper homes ($191K less) · smaller
Knoxville, TN 37919 81%2,065$72,645$526,800$258 Very close on everything we compare
Hershey, PA 17033 80%2,364$72,945$384,100$198 cheaper homes ($119K less) · smaller · older homes
Durham, NC 27707 80%2,332$74,406$407,800$249 cheaper homes ($95K less) · more walkable
Murfreesboro, TN 37130 80%1,940$62,706$371,800$207 cheaper homes ($131K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Missoula, MT 59802 80%632$67,736$461,700$351 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · more walkable
Laramie, WY 82070 80%847$69,095$338,500$216 cheaper homes ($165K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Provo, UT 84601 80%538$67,207$403,500$249 cheaper homes ($100K less) · younger residents
Cheney, WA 99004 80%577$67,337$420,500$233 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Winchester, VA 22601 79%2,304$64,258$339,800$209 cheaper homes ($163K less) · older homes
Newport News, VA 23606 79%2,434$72,874$327,200$205 cheaper homes ($176K less) · more walkable
Greenville, SC 29615 79%2,179$76,117$377,500$212 cheaper homes ($126K less) · older residents
Saint George, UT 84770 79%481$70,024$458,300$269 cheaper homes ($45K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Wilmington, NC 28405 78%2,430$70,274$368,500$257 cheaper homes ($135K less) · more homeowners · more walkable
Asheville, NC 28806 78%2,146$63,273$359,200$276 cheaper homes ($144K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Birmingham, AL 35209 78%1,976$71,439$504,600$311 more apartments and townhomes · 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.