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 Deer Island, OR 97054

Deer Island: median income $87,327, home value $459,000, $235/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbia, VA 23038 90%2,339$87,083$434,400$190 Very close on everything we compare
Vergas, MN 56587 90%1,288$88,000$367,600$290 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Star Tannery, VA 22654 89%2,283$74,721$417,200$296 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Zirconia, NC 28790 88%2,220$97,042$455,000$259 larger
Hampshire, TN 38461 88%1,974$66,406$418,300$256 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Greenwood, CA 95635 88%496$101,250$485,200$250 pricier homes ($26K more)
Buckhead, GA 30625 87%2,242$88,534$389,100$192 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Vader, WA 98593 87%32$84,244$343,800$273 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Salcha, AK 99714 87%1,575$88,258$306,200$227 cheaper homes ($153K less)
Pleasant Mount, PA 18453 86%2,350$85,110$325,000$260 cheaper homes ($134K less)
Bentonville, VA 22610 86%2,299$81,500$337,700$246 cheaper homes ($121K less) · 5 min longer commute
Good Hope, GA 30641 86%2,221$70,491$409,400$220 cheaper homes ($50K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Castalian Springs, TN 37031 86%1,994$98,114$352,600$228 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Culleoka, TN 38451 86%1,994$90,163$341,600$281 cheaper homes ($117K less) · larger
Silverlake, WA 98645 86%27$101,429$509,500$220 pricier homes ($51K more)
Washington, NH 03280 85%2,467$90,096$355,200$289 cheaper homes ($104K less) · older homes
New Haven, MI 48050 85%1,972$91,136$337,600$222 cheaper homes ($121K less) · older homes
Zumbro Falls, MN 55991 85%1,482$82,292$350,000$270 cheaper homes ($109K less) · younger residents · older homes
Moncure, NC 27559 84%2,367$74,490$385,000$233 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger
Bagdad, KY 40003 84%1,990$97,681$344,900$161 cheaper homes ($114K less)
Helenville, WI 53137 84%1,686$116,550$366,200$251 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($93K less)
Merrifield, MN 56465 84%1,368$74,400$372,100$337 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Dent, MN 56528 84%1,291$79,500$319,300$248 cheaper homes ($140K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Hermosa, SD 57744 84%973$106,250$386,800$270 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Burton, TX 77835 84%1,784$109,917$394,700$281 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger

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.