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 Hines, OR 97738

Hines: median income $89,071, home value $294,200, 10-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chamberlain, SD 57325 91%986$80,139$230,300$157 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Glasgow, MT 59230 90%679$85,000$241,000— cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Platte, SD 57369 89%1,007$78,100$237,400— cheaper homes ($57K less)
Seneca, KS 66538 87%1,212$78,981$299,300$111 larger · newer homes
Chinook, MT 59523 86%586$73,906$218,300— cheaper homes ($76K less)
Milford, UT 84751 86%481$81,908$247,100$182 cheaper homes ($47K less) · younger residents
Rock Rapids, IA 51246 85%1,144$72,400$247,900$116 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Carrington, ND 58421 85%1,011$89,097$171,200$101 cheaper homes ($123K less)
New Bremen, OH 45869 84%1,782$88,277$249,700$183 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Hillsboro, ND 58045 84%1,095$86,484$211,800$163 cheaper homes ($82K less) · 8 min longer commute
Northwood, ND 58267 84%1,073$88,015$217,800$161 cheaper homes ($76K less) · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Fort Benton, MT 59442 84%508$67,917$254,000$190 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Cottonwood, MN 56229 83%1,159$104,375$205,600$103 cheaper homes ($89K less) · 6 min longer commute
De Smet, SD 57231 83%1,068$78,646$212,200$125 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Sabetha, KS 66534 83%1,222$73,050$198,900$87 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger
Albion, NE 68620 83%1,076$83,450$231,700$169 cheaper homes ($63K less) · 6 min longer commute
Burlington, CO 80807 83%918$76,583$251,900$123 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Oriskany, NY 13424 82%2,172$84,844$208,200$163 cheaper homes ($86K less) · 7 min longer commute
Rothschild, WI 54474 82%1,454$81,635$193,600$147 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Atkinson, NE 68713 82%1,015$77,500$195,000— cheaper homes ($99K less)
Gothenburg, NE 69138 82%983$77,604$199,300$105 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Smithville, OH 44677 81%1,898$75,435$230,600$247 cheaper homes ($64K less) · 6 min longer commute
New Hampton, IA 50659 81%1,341$78,153$206,900$122 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Groton, SD 57445 81%1,039$84,948$193,800— cheaper homes ($100K less) · 7 min longer commute
Grangeville, ID 83530 81%219$79,477$324,000$269 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute

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.