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 Jacksonville, OR 97530

Jacksonville: median income $89,239, home value $617,400, $313/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Eliot, ME 03903 92%2,611$101,522$498,900$363 cheaper homes ($119K less)
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 92%2,541$86,193$437,500$368 cheaper homes ($180K less)
Woodland Park, CO 80863 92%966$104,779$572,100$261 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Palisade, CO 81526 92%796$87,500$501,800$337 cheaper homes ($116K less) · smaller
Kennebunkport, ME 04046 91%2,621$102,529$586,100$434 cheaper homes ($31K less)
White Salmon, WA 98672 91%259$97,622$669,200$415 pricier homes ($52K more)
Manhattan, MT 59741 90%633$90,947$615,200$382 smaller · younger residents
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 90%914$84,270$486,000$342 cheaper homes ($131K less) · newer homes
Cashmere, WA 98815 90%389$88,108$554,300$310 cheaper homes ($63K less) · younger residents
Bayfield, CO 81122 89%885$93,714$459,800$322 cheaper homes ($158K less) · newer homes
Blaine, WA 98230 89%469$86,623$499,800$316 cheaper homes ($118K less) · larger
East Helena, MT 59635 88%627$83,740$395,600$277 cheaper homes ($222K less) · younger residents
Buena Vista, CO 81211 88%914$88,083$677,400$409 pricier homes ($60K more)
Hayden, ID 83835 88%495$91,316$562,000$337 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Mount Vernon, WA 98274 88%429$96,177$547,700$360 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger · younger residents
Hampstead, NH 03841 87%2,597$104,044$510,100$307 cheaper homes ($107K less) · 6 min longer commute
Wolfeboro, NH 03894 87%2,583$94,349$548,600$347 cheaper homes ($69K less) · older residents
Auburn, CA 95602 87%243$97,466$688,500$339 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Anacortes, WA 98221 87%437$96,528$713,100$419 pricier homes ($96K more) · larger
Meredith, NH 03253 86%2,567$84,719$482,700$354 cheaper homes ($135K less) · older residents
Topsham, ME 04086 86%2,635$91,028$360,800$296 cheaper homes ($257K less)
Valatie, NY 12184 86%2,485$98,622$355,200$276 cheaper homes ($262K less)
Madison Lake, MN 56063 86%1,469$102,391$416,300$297 cheaper homes ($201K less) · smaller
Montrose, CO 81403 86%837$80,893$515,300$311 cheaper homes ($102K less) · newer homes
Carson City, NV 89703 86%269$85,230$626,500$330 older residents · more walkable

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.