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 Cottage Grove, OR 97424

Cottage Grove: median income $79,688, home value $372,500, $275/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kelso, WA 98626 97%164$75,528$368,900$269 Very close on everything we compare
Willits, CA 95490 96%300$79,594$392,700$254 Very close on everything we compare
Spokane, WA 99217 93%391$73,620$377,400$232 Very close on everything we compare
Sanford, ME 04073 92%2,572$72,917$282,900$269 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Kingsburg, CA 93631 92%536$79,228$396,800$276 younger residents
Saint Albans, VT 05478 91%2,432$71,203$316,400$224 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Red Bluff, CA 96080 91%253$66,076$343,700$232 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Yakima, WA 98903 91%221$75,343$287,400$269 cheaper homes ($85K less) · younger residents
Dudley, MA 01571 90%2,550$84,604$392,600$267 smaller
Johnston, RI 02919 90%2,573$91,775$355,800$267 larger
Laurel, MT 59044 90%712$87,648$346,500$231 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Addison, IL 60101 90%1,766$90,800$338,800$233 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Mentone, CA 92359 90%742$77,846$431,200$332 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller · younger residents
Lakeport, CA 95453 90%327$71,419$403,300$262 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Orland, CA 95963 90%283$68,091$372,900$259 younger residents
Montesano, WA 98563 90%229$84,634$349,200$230 smaller · older residents
Ludlow, MA 01056 89%2,519$84,838$335,300$251 cheaper homes ($37K less) · older homes
Uncasville, CT 06382 89%2,554$89,635$267,800$257 cheaper homes ($105K less) · smaller
Milford, DE 19963 89%2,458$71,108$322,500$221 cheaper homes ($50K less) · newer homes
Carson City, NV 89701 89%363$73,184$444,500$299 pricier homes ($72K more) · larger
Crescent City, CA 95531 89%149$67,458$351,400$247 Very close on everything we compare
Swanton, VT 05488 88%2,429$77,154$288,700$225 cheaper homes ($84K less) · smaller
New Holland, PA 17557 88%2,395$82,491$286,500$194 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Sandston, VA 23150 88%2,407$79,050$283,000$228 cheaper homes ($90K less) · more single-family homes
West Bend, WI 53095 88%1,732$80,830$305,400$207 cheaper homes ($67K 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.