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 Carlton, OR 97111

Carlton: median income $108,453, home value $520,400, $314/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
New Egypt, NJ 08533 95%2,459$113,583$492,500$279 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Lake Helen, FL 32744 92%2,532$112,599$453,700$238 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Wheatland, CA 95692 92%441$95,877$471,800$307 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Woodbridge, CA 95258 91%502$93,854$559,800$312 pricier homes ($39K more)
Tacoma, WA 98443 91%138$105,035$519,100$320 older homes
East Taunton, MA 02718 90%2,574$109,500$469,200$300 cheaper homes ($51K less) · more homeowners
Homestead, FL 33031 89%2,719$109,945$497,400$375 Very close on everything we compare
Hayden, CO 81639 89%868$110,404$443,600$354 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller
Silt, CO 81652 89%883$101,038$530,000$310 Very close on everything we compare
Hope Valley, RI 02832 88%2,551$105,976$432,300$270 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Chichester, NH 03258 88%2,520$108,906$410,100$271 cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller
Kingston Springs, TN 37082 88%1,973$98,361$418,800$256 cheaper homes ($102K less) · less walkable
North Berwick, ME 03906 87%2,550$105,156$432,900$325 cheaper homes ($88K less) · more homeowners · less walkable
Midland, VA 22728 87%2,349$120,789$516,300$262 Very close on everything we compare
Virginia Beach, VA 23457 87%2,494$116,250$571,000$312 pricier homes ($51K more) · less walkable
Coalville, UT 84017 87%671$95,900$620,500$364 pricier homes ($100K more) · younger residents
Rindge, NH 03461 86%2,504$102,679$415,400$281 cheaper homes ($105K less) · younger residents
El Dorado, CA 95623 86%475$109,102$601,800$335 pricier homes ($81K more) · older residents · less walkable
Applegate, CA 95703 86%448$100,214$603,900$351 pricier homes ($84K more) · smaller
Pollock Pines, CA 95726 86%470$91,128$424,200$259 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger
Suquamish, WA 98392 86%172$85,530$452,400$367 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller
Forestdale, MA 02644 85%2,603$108,158$485,700$361 cheaper homes ($35K less) · more homeowners
New Ipswich, NH 03071 85%2,511$110,507$392,400$278 cheaper homes ($128K less) · less walkable
Buxton, ME 04093 85%2,551$100,144$356,800$332 cheaper homes ($164K less) · larger
Florida, NY 10921 85%2,431$115,221$387,300$277 cheaper homes ($133K less)

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.