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 Rockaway Beach, OR 97136

Rockaway Beach: median income $66,106, home value $375,000, $372/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dubois, WY 82513 92%717$66,332$382,600$330 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Germain, WI 54558 91%1,648$59,718$261,000$345 cheaper homes ($114K less)
Boulder Junction, WI 54512 89%1,638$75,147$294,500$338 cheaper homes ($81K less) · smaller
Minocqua, WI 54548 89%1,636$69,569$336,400$288 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Greenville, ME 04441 88%2,578$64,789$291,900$361 cheaper homes ($83K less) · older residents
Long Beach, WA 98631 88%53$71,705$409,400$335 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Chincoteague Island, VA 23336 87%2,519$63,464$346,700$288 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Darby, MT 59829 87%470$63,650$437,900$315 pricier homes ($63K more) · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Westwood, CA 96137 87%395$65,896$414,900$322 pricier homes ($40K more)
Mackay, ID 83251 86%520$73,482$366,900$286 smaller
Deer Isle, ME 04627 85%2,652$61,703$299,500$278 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Cape Charles, VA 23310 85%2,511$62,500$377,300$318 larger · more renters
Murphys, CA 95247 85%547$76,333$537,400$306 pricier homes ($162K more) · larger
Weaverville, CA 96093 85%341$65,741$339,500$225 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Moyie Springs, ID 83845 84%424$72,695$373,700$325 less walkable
Port Hadlock, WA 98339 84%176$77,778$409,800$350 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · younger residents
Schroon Lake, NY 12870 83%2,425$72,628$268,700$382 cheaper homes ($106K less) · less walkable
Bayfield, WI 54814 83%1,574$63,682$250,000$268 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Thompson Falls, MT 59873 83%430$60,000$305,900$277 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Etna, CA 96027 83%292$64,308$312,700$236 cheaper homes ($62K less) · younger residents
Boothbay, ME 04537 82%2,616$76,667$358,600$296 Very close on everything we compare
Glenville, NC 28736 82%2,239$70,855$428,400$373 pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Lincoln, MT 59639 82%546$57,778$371,700$418 smaller · less walkable
Plains, MT 59859 82%449$64,846$429,200$278 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · less walkable
Crawford, CO 81415 82%961$59,141$330,900$333 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 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.