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 Brownsville, OR 97327

Brownsville: median income $81,267, home value $396,200, $241/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Darlington, MD 21034 94%2,388$78,047$401,500$218 Very close on everything we compare
Monmouth, ME 04259 92%2,570$83,919$298,300$208 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Saxonburg, PA 16056 92%2,183$75,893$302,000$239 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Garretson, SD 57030 92%1,308$79,375$327,400$214 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Joliet, MT 59041 92%686$80,500$411,700$189 Very close on everything we compare
Idaho City, ID 83631 92%361$80,714$409,800$264 smaller
Llano, CA 93544 92%737$89,792$406,500$229 smaller
Lockeford, CA 95237 92%440$87,117$490,500$291 pricier homes ($94K more)
Center Point, TX 78010 91%1,641$86,830$318,600$226 cheaper homes ($78K less) · newer homes
Penrose, CO 81240 91%1,013$90,417$341,400$244 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Auberry, CA 93602 91%537$78,016$370,700$221 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Middletown, CA 95461 91%387$78,667$387,400$224 more renters
Darrington, WA 98241 91%275$73,185$395,000$278 Very close on everything we compare
Winchester, NH 03470 90%2,495$79,028$252,800$244 cheaper homes ($143K less) · larger
Canaan, NH 03741 90%2,489$82,181$257,500$305 cheaper homes ($139K less)
Silver Lake, WI 53170 90%1,736$79,931$284,400$237 cheaper homes ($112K less)
Entiat, WA 98822 90%263$86,103$383,600$340 5 min longer commute
Antrim, NH 03440 89%2,507$88,889$300,000$305 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Poland, ME 04274 89%2,557$85,557$283,600$275 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger
Dayville, CT 06241 89%2,540$88,389$298,200$234 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger
Milton, NY 12547 89%2,444$88,778$377,200$255 Very close on everything we compare
Port Deposit, MD 21904 89%2,397$88,136$333,500$236 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · younger residents
Marshall, WI 53559 89%1,680$93,571$315,300$211 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger
Absarokee, MT 59001 89%663$82,692$359,000$271 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Glenrock, WY 82637 89%860$80,038$278,800$193 cheaper homes ($117K 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.