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 Aurora, OR 97002

Aurora: median income $70,137, home value $530,100, $339/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Yarmouth, MA 02673 93%2,602$73,854$502,200$411 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Dolores, CO 81323 90%914$75,393$392,000$291 cheaper homes ($138K less)
Palisade, CO 81526 90%850$87,500$501,800$337 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Cascade, ID 83611 90%352$77,411$429,400$335 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller
Cashmere, WA 98815 89%192$88,108$554,300$310 younger residents
Camino, CA 95709 88%461$79,780$578,700$298 pricier homes ($49K more)
Calverton, NY 11933 87%2,503$74,195$444,100$400 cheaper homes ($86K less) · 5 min longer commute
Oakhurst, CA 93644 87%569$81,196$396,300$250 cheaper homes ($134K less)
Sutter Creek, CA 95685 87%482$83,878$569,100$283 pricier homes ($39K more) · older residents
Livingston, MT 59047 86%594$71,620$456,800$325 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger
Polson, MT 59860 86%446$62,047$441,500$309 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Johnson City, TX 78636 86%1,676$72,663$532,600$263 smaller · older residents · newer homes
Jackson, CA 95642 86%486$81,438$456,100$263 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Newport, WA 99156 86%336$65,271$378,400$334 cheaper homes ($152K less) · 6 min longer commute
Three Forks, MT 59752 85%546$86,767$461,100$334 cheaper homes ($69K less) · newer homes
Darby, MT 59829 85%419$63,650$437,900$315 cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller · older residents
Sagle, ID 83860 85%361$71,563$597,500$482 pricier homes ($67K more) · newer homes
Port Angeles, WA 98363 85%202$64,869$385,100$331 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Carson, WA 98610 85%59$72,773$501,600$385 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Cathlamet, WA 98612 85%72$59,583$429,600$318 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller
West Wareham, MA 02576 84%2,573$63,021$387,200$345 cheaper homes ($143K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Belmont, NH 03220 84%2,496$68,242$316,200$280 cheaper homes ($214K less)
East Helena, MT 59635 84%532$83,740$395,600$277 cheaper homes ($135K less) · younger residents
Llano, TX 78643 84%1,645$68,365$362,600$239 cheaper homes ($168K less) · older residents
Boulder City, NV 89005 84%763$74,375$435,600$289 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · more 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.