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 Elmira, OR 97437

Elmira: median income $95,129, home value $517,900, $320/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oakville, WA 98568 91%191$84,531$426,200$315 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Kersey, CO 80644 90%994$97,847$409,100$276 cheaper homes ($109K less)
Lockeford, CA 95237 86%425$87,117$490,500$291 cheaper homes ($27K less) · younger residents
Herald, CA 95638 86%415$91,500$713,600$369 pricier homes ($196K more) · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Plymouth, CA 95669 86%408$89,609$582,900$291 pricier homes ($65K more)
Llano, CA 93544 85%727$89,792$406,500$229 cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller
Chesapeake City, MD 21915 84%2,434$95,875$376,500$252 cheaper homes ($141K less) · more single-family homes
Castle Rock, WA 98611 84%153$86,322$425,700$273 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · younger residents
Onalaska, WA 98570 83%175$95,795$428,200$293 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · younger residents
Zirconia, NC 28790 82%2,236$97,042$455,000$259 cheaper homes ($63K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes
Shelbyville, MI 49344 82%1,883$84,661$313,400$307 cheaper homes ($205K less) · more single-family homes
Rosanky, TX 78953 82%1,727$83,438$325,400$277 cheaper homes ($193K less) · smaller · newer homes
Toledo, WA 98591 82%165$78,952$471,100$324 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Entiat, WA 98822 82%291$86,103$383,600$340 cheaper homes ($134K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Milton, NH 03851 81%2,568$93,412$314,300$376 cheaper homes ($204K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Ossipee, NH 03864 81%2,557$104,485$328,200$284 cheaper homes ($190K less) · more homeowners
Darlington, MD 21034 81%2,411$78,047$401,500$218 cheaper homes ($116K less)
Sullivan, WI 53178 81%1,730$99,875$371,500$239 cheaper homes ($146K less)
Three Forks, MT 59752 81%590$86,767$461,100$334 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · newer homes
Descanso, CA 91916 81%856$103,438$676,800$273 pricier homes ($159K more) · smaller · younger residents
Auberry, CA 93602 81%526$78,016$370,700$221 cheaper homes ($147K less)
Janesville, CA 96114 81%300$79,688$338,600$221 cheaper homes ($179K less)
Zumbro Falls, MN 55991 80%1,524$82,292$350,000$270 cheaper homes ($168K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Joliet, MT 59041 80%711$80,500$411,700$189 cheaper homes ($106K less)
Burton, TX 77835 80%1,748$109,917$394,700$281 cheaper homes ($123K less) · more single-family homes · newer homes

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.