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 Stayton, OR 97383

Stayton: median income $78,853, home value $423,600, $288/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mentone, CA 92359 96%799$77,846$431,200$332 Very close on everything we compare
Kingsburg, CA 93631 94%597$79,228$396,800$276 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Willits, CA 95490 93%371$79,594$392,700$254 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents
Spokane, WA 99217 93%332$73,620$377,400$232 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Grand Terrace, CA 92313 92%799$83,628$517,600$344 pricier homes ($94K more)
Newport, MN 55055 91%1,450$71,979$378,100$245 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Laurel, MT 59044 91%683$87,648$346,500$231 cheaper homes ($77K less)
Selah, WA 98942 91%168$84,646$382,300$239 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Sparks, NV 89434 90%395$91,507$457,000$302 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Hughson, CA 95326 90%508$87,500$533,100$294 pricier homes ($110K more)
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 90%252$76,717$492,300$331 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger
Vancouver, WA 98664 90%57$85,369$467,200$296 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger
Louisville, TN 37777 89%2,111$75,648$345,600$244 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Fruitland, ID 83619 89%294$66,267$348,300$254 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Exeter, CA 93221 89%617$86,940$360,900$269 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Orland, CA 95963 89%351$68,091$372,900$259 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Burlington, WA 98233 89%255$87,614$502,100$348 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger
Saint Albans, VT 05478 88%2,396$71,203$316,400$224 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger
Hanahan, SC 29410 88%2,410$87,984$374,800$250 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Nashville, TN 37218 88%1,960$61,919$349,900$261 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Carson City, NV 89701 88%420$73,184$444,500$299 larger
Lakeport, CA 95453 88%398$71,419$403,300$262 Very close on everything we compare
Live Oak, CA 95953 88%387$74,786$376,900$265 cheaper homes ($47K less) · 6 min longer commute
Kelso, WA 98626 88%93$75,528$368,900$269 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Yakima, WA 98903 88%155$75,343$287,400$269 cheaper homes ($136K 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.