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 Tulelake, CA 96134

Tulelake: median income $49,674, home value $200,000, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lilesville, NC 28091 94%2,272$52,917$152,900— cheaper homes ($47K less)
New Ellenton, SC 29809 94%2,230$55,234$154,800$156 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Richford, VT 05476 93%2,417$57,361$196,700$183 Very close on everything we compare
Monroeton, PA 18832 93%2,287$52,961$152,400$116 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Beverly, OH 45715 93%2,071$47,176$176,000$115 Very close on everything we compare
Marlette, MI 48453 93%1,936$53,676$163,800$145 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
North Bloomfield, OH 44450 92%2,076$51,723$177,200$111 Very close on everything we compare
Stratford, OK 74872 92%1,409$56,321$182,100$120 newer homes
Manns Choice, PA 15550 91%2,214$53,750$160,800$100 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Ulysses, PA 16948 91%2,224$46,116$153,800$98 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Cowan, TN 37318 91%1,955$52,125$177,100$178 Very close on everything we compare
Caledonia, OH 43314 91%1,981$49,183$147,700$172 cheaper homes ($52K less)
La Farge, WI 54639 91%1,558$61,375$209,700$130 Very close on everything we compare
Bentleyville, PA 15314 90%2,142$59,356$166,300$134 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Smithton, PA 15479 90%2,155$63,852$202,700$204 Very close on everything we compare
Marion Center, PA 15759 90%2,178$57,132$168,600$119 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents
Peachland, NC 28133 90%2,255$46,549$188,800$153 older residents
New Springfield, OH 44443 90%2,097$56,957$218,900$161 newer homes
Mineral City, OH 44656 90%2,066$58,852$208,700$199 Very close on everything we compare
Wellman, IA 52356 90%1,519$57,321$227,800$135 pricier homes ($28K more)
Beecher City, IL 62414 90%1,713$58,370$157,800— cheaper homes ($42K less)
Horatio, AR 71842 90%1,571$55,810$175,500$122 newer homes
Yale, OK 74085 90%1,382$43,600$200,400$99 newer homes
Eckert, CO 81418 90%739$54,417$266,000$203 pricier homes ($66K more) · newer homes
Cairo, NY 12413 89%2,398$60,363$232,800$128 pricier homes ($33K more)

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.