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 Philomath, OR 97370

Philomath: median income $88,091, home value $463,200, $279/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Allentown, PA 18106 93%2,413$92,813$412,200$233 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Topsham, ME 04086 92%2,597$91,028$360,800$296 cheaper homes ($102K less)
Savannah, GA 31410 91%2,425$97,807$407,700$259 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger
Shalimar, FL 32579 91%2,217$104,510$444,300$232 Very close on everything we compare
Mc Farland, WI 53558 91%1,692$107,609$405,300$253 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Bristol, VT 05443 90%2,446$88,594$356,600$238 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Colchester, VT 05446 90%2,431$97,475$393,200$282 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Cedarburg, WI 53012 90%1,749$96,090$422,700$273 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Lake Mills, WI 53551 90%1,709$94,401$357,400$229 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Medical Lake, WA 99022 90%345$93,812$389,700$245 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Pawcatuck, CT 06379 89%2,572$95,066$406,100$286 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older homes
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 89%2,546$86,193$437,500$368 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Banner Elk, NC 28604 89%2,237$76,319$383,800$327 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Olympia, WA 98506 89%178$91,596$490,900$298 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · more renters
Lincoln, RI 02865 88%2,578$105,958$470,300$260 larger · older homes
Saco, ME 04072 88%2,583$92,241$413,100$329 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Deep River, CT 06417 88%2,543$90,253$362,200$286 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller
Manteo, NC 27954 88%2,550$80,587$418,400$374 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Petoskey, MI 49770 88%1,864$79,590$355,200$275 cheaper homes ($108K less) · larger
Stoughton, WI 53589 88%1,697$96,226$341,000$241 cheaper homes ($122K less) · larger
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 87%2,493$90,013$370,500$283 cheaper homes ($93K less) · larger
East Greenbush, NY 12061 87%2,453$110,962$343,800$264 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Yorktown, VA 23692 87%2,470$109,066$417,200$222 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Spring Lake, MI 49456 87%1,841$92,672$340,200$248 cheaper homes ($123K less) · larger · less walkable
Germantown, WI 53022 87%1,745$100,890$373,400$219 cheaper homes ($90K 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.