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 Portola, CA 96122

Portola: median income $54,205, home value $273,700, $254/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Myrtle Creek, OR 97457 94%265$57,356$254,100$250 larger
Winston, OR 97496 91%274$56,071$257,600$244 larger · older residents
Canyonville, OR 97417 90%260$50,217$246,200$269 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Coquille, OR 97423 89%303$61,020$296,100$208 less walkable
Delta, CO 81416 88%667$50,243$319,400$262 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Weiser, ID 83672 88%356$51,045$272,800$225 larger · less walkable
Union, OR 97883 88%396$65,172$239,100$229 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · younger residents
Myrtle Point, OR 97458 87%294$51,760$276,200$226 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Sutherlin, OR 97479 87%287$59,335$291,900$258 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Vale, OR 97918 87%333$63,342$298,100$219 younger residents
Jefferson, NC 28640 86%2,118$53,155$282,900$264 older residents · less walkable
Stanfield, OR 97875 86%418$57,451$208,900$232 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Honesdale, PA 18431 85%2,345$56,779$230,200$207 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Onamia, MN 56359 85%1,414$59,457$232,200$223 cheaper homes ($42K less) · less walkable
Sturgis, SD 57785 85%930$63,897$296,100$221 larger
Parowan, UT 84761 85%433$51,538$355,000$208 pricier homes ($81K more)
Toledo, OR 97391 85%377$62,292$352,900$283 pricier homes ($79K more)
Newport, ME 04953 84%2,595$60,365$234,800$182 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Bryson City, NC 28713 84%2,034$50,882$221,900$258 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · less walkable
Saint Maries, ID 83861 84%553$65,508$307,800$237 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · less walkable
Youngtown, AZ 85363 84%624$68,321$320,000$214 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Yerington, NV 89447 84%90$56,691$277,500$233 larger · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Reedsport, OR 97467 84%327$58,202$252,400$239 older residents
Melfa, VA 23410 83%2,390$54,050$195,100$193 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller · less walkable
West Jefferson, NC 28694 83%2,116$58,486$273,200$266 larger · less 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.