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 Wolf Creek, OR 97497

Wolf Creek: median income $36,210, home value $321,800, $285/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Glade Valley, NC 28627 82%2,275$46,474$246,400$212 cheaper homes ($75K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Kelso, TN 37348 81%2,038$39,542$266,200$202 cheaper homes ($56K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Kinsale, VA 22488 80%2,455$45,313$431,300$232 pricier homes ($110K more)
Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423 80%251$41,143$293,600$211 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · more walkable
Green Mountain, NC 28740 79%2,225$48,214$213,000$310 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger
Troy, MT 59935 79%543$39,712$371,400$307 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · more homeowners
Jasper, AR 72641 79%1,669$37,696$179,800$351 cheaper homes ($142K less) · larger · younger residents
Lovingston, VA 22949 78%2,347$52,679$272,700$240 cheaper homes ($49K less)
San Andreas, CA 95249 78%341$45,302$429,700$292 pricier homes ($108K more) · larger
Prattsville, NY 12468 77%2,463$51,875$241,100$278 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Allons, TN 38541 77%2,055$41,151$220,900$256 cheaper homes ($101K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Kents Store, VA 23084 76%2,382$40,833$285,400$282 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more single-family homes
Caulfield, MO 65626 76%1,710$40,208$228,000$335 cheaper homes ($94K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Gilbert, LA 71336 76%1,882$45,868$209,800— cheaper homes ($112K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Colorado City, CO 81019 76%1,029$38,056$223,400$241 cheaper homes ($98K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Belvidere, TN 37306 75%2,051$39,375$223,400$248 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · younger residents
Shacklefords, VA 23156 74%2,463$36,179$196,700$209 cheaper homes ($125K less) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Buffalo Junction, VA 24529 74%2,392$27,243$175,700$245 cheaper homes ($146K less)
Bolton, MS 39041 74%1,927$41,137$174,600— cheaper homes ($147K less) · larger
Karnack, TX 75661 74%1,732$41,929$158,500$258 cheaper homes ($163K less) · larger
Cherryfield, ME 04622 73%2,723$43,854$165,900$251 cheaper homes ($156K less)
Grayland, WA 98547 73%290$42,400$215,200$229 cheaper homes ($107K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Elizaville, NY 12523 72%2,497$54,235$343,400$322 larger · more homeowners
Meadows Of Dan, VA 24120 72%2,299$46,901$205,200$220 cheaper homes ($117K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Juliaetta, ID 83535 72%427$57,647$293,800$272 cheaper homes ($28K less)

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.