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 Mcarthur, CA 96056

Mcarthur: median income $61,442, home value $375,600, $199/sq ft, 43-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charlemont, MA 01339 91%2,465$68,365$309,300$281 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Kendrick, ID 83537 88%453$71,917$327,300$197 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Orland, ME 04472 86%2,635$69,022$275,300$295 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Hague, VA 22469 85%2,366$58,500$325,900$198 cheaper homes ($50K less) · younger residents
Greentown, PA 18426 83%2,369$63,219$272,300$218 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger
Surry, VA 23883 83%2,383$76,719$239,400$206 cheaper homes ($136K less)
Free Soil, MI 49411 83%1,786$61,857$239,400$235 cheaper homes ($136K less)
Cuddebackville, NY 12729 82%2,400$66,982$330,100$175 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Urbanna, VA 23175 82%2,380$66,858$369,000$215 older residents · 9 min shorter commute
Oakland, OR 97462 82%194$68,507$400,400$183 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Beulah, CO 81023 81%897$55,641$375,200$191 10 min longer commute
Jefferson, NH 03583 80%2,506$67,188$296,700$196 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Danby, VT 05739 80%2,447$75,000$296,500$206 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 10 min shorter commute
Huddleston, VA 24104 80%2,242$65,738$339,300$308 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · newer homes
Hillsboro, WV 24946 80%2,180$60,625$227,000— cheaper homes ($149K less) · younger residents
Quilcene, WA 98376 80%474$57,250$344,700$306 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents · newer homes
Cochecton, NY 12726 79%2,378$77,149$377,000$178 9 min shorter commute
Port Haywood, VA 23138 79%2,400$78,475$277,800$311 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Gouldsboro, ME 04607 78%2,666$60,152$253,400$270 cheaper homes ($122K less) · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Barryville, NY 12719 78%2,384$79,921$328,900$336 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Andreas, PA 18211 78%2,352$78,806$240,400$243 cheaper homes ($135K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Graford, TX 76449 78%1,386$72,813$398,700$299 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Colrain, MA 01340 77%2,472$78,804$283,200$254 cheaper homes ($92K less) · 9 min shorter commute
Waterford, ME 04088 77%2,545$63,750$276,800$329 cheaper homes ($99K less) · 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Wells, VT 05774 77%2,436$76,667$253,200$212 cheaper homes ($122K less) · 6 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.