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 Quincy, CA 95971

Quincy: median income $83,269, home value $327,100, $215/sq ft, 11-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Petersburg, AK 99833 90%1,290$75,125$315,100$241 smaller
Glasgow, MT 59230 87%911$85,000$241,000— cheaper homes ($86K less)
Spirit Lake, IA 51360 83%1,350$75,882$271,700$253 cheaper homes ($55K less) · less walkable
North Bend, OR 97459 83%294$82,035$372,700$246 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Milford, IA 51351 82%1,348$73,824$273,100$184 cheaper homes ($54K less) · 8 min longer commute
Clarkston, WA 99403 82%488$71,482$325,300$216 larger · less walkable
Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085 81%1,715$73,703$241,900$193 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger · less walkable
Ilwaco, WA 98624 81%467$83,214$364,100$213 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Wheatland, WY 82201 80%846$64,982$290,000$138 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Warrenton, OR 97146 80%455$82,936$463,800$313 pricier homes ($137K more)
Cody, WY 82414 79%685$77,958$435,300$252 pricier homes ($108K more) · larger
Baker City, OR 97814 79%371$64,852$294,400$156 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · older homes
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 78%1,342$70,037$314,700$217 larger · 7 min longer commute
Miles City, MT 59301 78%882$71,332$217,900— cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger · older homes
Grangeville, ID 83530 78%482$79,477$324,000$269 younger residents · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Montesano, WA 98563 78%511$84,634$349,200$230 12 min longer commute
Omak, WA 98841 78%591$71,809$274,000$163 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Haines, AK 99827 78%1,479$85,208$290,000$245 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · less walkable
Clear Lake, IA 50428 77%1,437$81,037$283,400$232 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 8 min longer commute
Buffalo, WY 82834 77%791$63,395$328,700$222 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Kanab, UT 84741 77%498$85,417$418,100$255 pricier homes ($91K more) · less walkable · newer homes
Ely, NV 89301 77%327$77,518$235,600$176 cheaper homes ($92K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Plymouth, WI 53073 76%1,707$76,442$258,900$194 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Bottineau, ND 58318 76%1,181$85,729$220,600$176 cheaper homes ($107K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Choteau, MT 59422 76%699$67,500$256,500$184 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute

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.