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 Junction City, CA 96048

Junction City: median income $50,521, home value $284,000, $159/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Waubay, SD 57273 87%1,334$48,167$177,400$164 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Cole Camp, MO 65325 86%1,591$53,942$230,000$160 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Springerville, AZ 85938 85%878$49,684$212,300$134 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
East Machias, ME 04630 82%2,784$57,857$211,300$159 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Babson Park, FL 33827 82%2,508$54,556$230,300$216 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Vanderbilt, MI 49795 82%1,948$57,019$166,500$163 cheaper homes ($118K less) · 6 min longer commute
Hoolehua, HI 96729 82%2,403$59,375$231,900— cheaper homes ($52K less) · younger residents
Orland, IN 46776 81%1,956$54,801$208,700$151 cheaper homes ($75K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Almena, WI 54805 81%1,590$59,643$189,100$128 cheaper homes ($95K less)
Big Sandy, MT 59520 81%818$62,109$204,000$130 cheaper homes ($80K less) · older homes
Lockwood, MO 65682 81%1,572$53,590$164,300$143 cheaper homes ($120K less) · older homes
Mayetta, KS 66509 81%1,446$65,958$189,200$173 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Okanogan, WA 98840 81%553$57,342$261,600$145 larger
Ione, WA 99139 81%618$52,404$274,100$143 older residents · more homeowners
Accomac, VA 23301 80%2,514$46,680$227,800$125 cheaper homes ($56K less) · younger residents
Mc Caysville, GA 30555 80%2,128$49,375$203,800$199 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Rickman, TN 38580 80%2,049$70,081$246,100$208 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Fosston, MN 56542 80%1,426$59,706$186,300$128 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · older homes
Antonito, CO 81120 80%948$47,546$188,200$182 cheaper homes ($96K less) · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Osburn, ID 83849 80%584$52,639$223,600$185 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger · older homes
Oroville, WA 98844 80%594$44,201$293,800$252 larger
Melfa, VA 23410 79%2,513$54,050$195,100$193 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Painter, VA 23420 79%2,511$52,831$158,400$214 cheaper homes ($126K less) · larger · older homes
Rodney, MI 49342 79%1,925$53,971$168,300$181 cheaper homes ($116K less) · 7 min longer commute
Walsenburg, CO 81089 79%1,001$52,280$191,800$154 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · 5 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.