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 Canyon City, OR 97820

Canyon City: median income $67,115, home value $206,600, $228/sq ft, 13-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Montezuma, KS 67867 90%1,069$67,000$186,900$232 Very close on everything we compare
Basin, WY 82410 89%538$68,839$197,300$155 Very close on everything we compare
North Clarendon, VT 05759 87%2,257$58,150$209,100$199 older residents
Smithville, OH 44677 87%1,885$75,435$230,600$247 larger
Harvey, ND 58341 86%946$61,641$139,000$246 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · more renters
Imperial, NE 69033 86%919$67,135$171,300— cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Grand Coulee, WA 99133 86%245$68,854$229,900$265 older residents
Milbridge, ME 04658 84%2,476$60,536$240,400$262 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Pownal, VT 05261 84%2,261$62,917$260,000$195 pricier homes ($53K more) · 8 min longer commute
Benzonia, MI 49616 84%1,608$57,982$221,600$259 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Walcott, IA 52773 84%1,431$85,523$214,400$178 larger · 6 min longer commute
Milnor, ND 58060 84%1,048$77,143$167,800$167 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Fort Benton, MT 59442 84%468$67,917$254,000$190 pricier homes ($47K more) · older homes
Lapwai, ID 83540 84%174$62,963$205,100$256 more renters · less walkable
Broadus, MT 59317 83%673$71,250$197,400— 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Friedens, PA 15541 82%2,051$62,992$178,500$233 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Hildebran, NC 28637 82%2,053$67,500$197,900$185 6 min longer commute · more renters
Garner, IA 50438 82%1,263$70,350$197,600$153 larger · older residents
Wall Lake, IA 51466 82%1,204$71,579$179,600$245 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · older residents
Kimball, SD 57355 82%991$63,125$144,200— cheaper homes ($62K less) · less walkable · older homes
Burke, SD 57523 82%981$68,750$214,400$139 smaller
Malta, MT 59538 82%596$57,097$191,800— larger · more renters
Canadian, TX 79014 82%1,138$62,273$204,300$153 larger · more renters
Texico, NM 88135 82%1,090$70,417$145,000— cheaper homes ($62K less) · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Mineral Ridge, OH 44440 81%1,933$64,904$167,800$156 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger

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.