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 Toledo, OR 97391

Toledo: median income $62,292, home value $352,900, $283/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Croydon, PA 19021 89%2,485$70,199$293,400$264 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Youngtown, AZ 85363 89%983$68,321$320,000$214 cheaper homes ($33K less) · newer homes
Newport, MN 55055 88%1,509$71,979$378,100$245 pricier homes ($25K more) · younger residents
Wind Gap, PA 18091 86%2,444$80,464$277,600$271 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Colusa, CA 95932 86%385$66,964$389,600$243 pricier homes ($37K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Sanford, ME 04073 85%2,595$72,917$282,900$269 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Lawnside, NJ 08045 85%2,485$71,607$240,700$222 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller
Ellenville, NY 12428 85%2,465$63,145$238,400$199 cheaper homes ($115K less) · older homes
Matamoras, PA 18336 85%2,459$71,295$250,200$234 cheaper homes ($103K less)
Portola, CA 96122 85%377$54,205$273,700$254 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Pittsfield, NH 03263 84%2,572$74,318$294,800$241 cheaper homes ($58K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Saint Albans, VT 05478 84%2,454$71,203$316,400$224 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Putnam, CT 06260 84%2,580$70,502$269,500$221 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger
Port Jervis, NY 12771 84%2,461$68,136$261,100$234 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger
Akron, PA 17501 84%2,420$78,182$258,900$199 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Fortuna, CA 95540 84%280$63,695$389,500$266 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Willows, CA 95988 84%362$66,339$297,200$241 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · younger residents
Ware, MA 01082 83%2,554$69,018$292,000$219 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · less walkable
Athol, MA 01331 83%2,547$72,181$281,400$248 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Orange, MA 01364 83%2,543$55,532$247,800$207 cheaper homes ($105K less) · 7 min longer commute
Webster, MA 01570 83%2,578$72,895$361,500$279 larger
Danielson, CT 06239 83%2,584$74,267$277,500$264 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · less walkable
Nashville, TN 37218 83%2,016$61,919$349,900$261 larger
Payette, ID 83661 83%348$59,351$302,300$250 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · less walkable
Lakeport, CA 95453 83%389$71,419$403,300$262 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · more homeowners

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.