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.

Reset

Towns most like Doyle, CA 96109

Doyle: median income $43,988, home value $259,900, $185/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Elsinore, UT 84724 91%435$49,438$238,200$249 Very close on everything we compare
Mc Caysville, GA 30555 90%1,973$49,375$203,800$199 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Mount Upton, NY 13809 86%2,303$52,167$206,900— cheaper homes ($53K less) · younger residents
North Stratford, NH 03590 85%2,463$52,803$166,500$170 cheaper homes ($93K less)
Fort Ashby, WV 26719 84%2,176$54,167$211,600$147 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Stantonville, TN 38379 84%1,756$41,136$170,800$250 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Otisco, IN 47163 84%1,834$59,837$211,300$175 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Cole Camp, MO 65325 84%1,439$53,942$230,000$160 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Elk Park, NC 28622 83%2,075$44,028$169,900$199 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · more renters
Babson Park, FL 33827 83%2,346$54,556$230,300$216 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Lockbourne, OH 43137 83%1,954$49,145$218,200$183 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · younger residents
Orland, IN 46776 83%1,818$54,801$208,700$151 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Benzonia, MI 49616 83%1,754$57,982$221,600$259 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
North Creek, NY 12853 82%2,357$57,950$214,600$236 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Rodney, MI 49342 82%1,795$53,971$168,300$181 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Gilbert, LA 71336 82%1,677$45,868$209,800— cheaper homes ($50K less) · less walkable
Paint Rock, TX 76866 82%1,271$56,429$163,100— cheaper homes ($97K less)
Antonito, CO 81120 82%786$47,546$188,200$182 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Oroville, WA 98844 82%619$44,201$293,800$252 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · more renters
Riegelwood, NC 28456 81%2,315$49,670$167,900$170 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger
Thurmond, NC 28683 81%2,125$45,423$176,600$230 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Penrose, NC 28766 81%2,062$57,708$307,000$252 pricier homes ($47K more) · older residents
Belvidere, TN 37306 81%1,877$39,375$223,400$248 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 5 min longer commute
Huntsville, OH 43324 81%1,902$56,466$256,500$254 larger
Western Grove, AR 72685 81%1,495$48,750$203,900$153 cheaper homes ($56K less) · 8 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.