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 Selma, OR 97538

Selma: median income $44,099, home value $312,200, $303/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bunn, NC 27508 92%2,438$50,368$258,600— cheaper homes ($54K less)
Harned, KY 40144 88%1,973$41,711$218,000— cheaper homes ($94K less) · newer homes
Charlo, MT 59824 86%581$53,382$317,800$247 older residents
Honey Grove, TX 75446 85%1,612$52,460$238,800$240 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger
Mossyrock, WA 98564 85%298$60,147$323,500$284 larger
Greenville, VA 24440 83%2,338$46,178$280,300$207 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Vaughn, MT 59487 83%690$56,359$229,300$232 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Preston, MO 65732 83%1,624$45,909$278,800— cheaper homes ($33K less) · more single-family homes
Bradyville, TN 37026 82%2,045$43,005$209,800$292 cheaper homes ($102K less) · 8 min longer commute · newer homes
Quebeck, TN 38579 82%2,069$51,940$229,100— cheaper homes ($83K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Mount Upton, NY 13809 81%2,425$52,167$206,900— cheaper homes ($105K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Newfoundland, PA 18445 81%2,451$53,429$247,700$209 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Henderson, MD 21640 81%2,480$53,558$268,500$227 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Molena, GA 30258 81%2,212$58,777$262,500$228 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Whitleyville, TN 38588 81%2,043$44,583$209,200$222 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Lecompte, LA 71346 81%1,877$48,240$173,800— cheaper homes ($138K less)
Caulfield, MO 65626 80%1,715$40,208$228,000$335 cheaper homes ($84K less) · older residents
Tuckasegee, NC 28783 79%2,212$51,350$290,900$271 more renters
Bryant, AL 35958 79%2,091$50,885$191,000$292 cheaper homes ($121K less) · larger
Cedar Bluff, AL 35959 79%2,113$52,356$234,500$246 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · older residents
Grandview, TN 37337 79%2,106$48,359$184,900$257 cheaper homes ($127K less) · smaller · older residents
Lockbourne, OH 43137 79%2,101$49,145$218,200$183 cheaper homes ($94K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Carlsbad, TX 76934 79%1,455$52,125$269,600$344 cheaper homes ($43K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Ranchos De Taos, NM 87557 79%1,041$49,337$356,400$350 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Hiram, ME 04041 78%2,617$62,813$256,600$325 cheaper homes ($56K less) · more single-family 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.