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 John Day, OR 97845

John Day: median income $68,036, home value $248,700, $176/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Harborcreek, PA 16421 87%1,949$64,091$224,200$184 more single-family homes
Grand Coulee, WA 99133 84%243$68,854$229,900$265 smaller
Gorham, NH 03581 83%2,325$64,127$196,400$135 cheaper homes ($52K less) · 7 min longer commute
Funkstown, MD 21734 82%2,121$61,392$277,800$201 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Lusk, WY 82225 82%733$68,422$229,200$109 6 min shorter commute
Westport, WA 98595 82%302$66,579$260,400$315 newer homes
North Clarendon, VT 05759 81%2,257$58,150$209,100$199 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more homeowners
New Market, VA 22844 81%2,099$65,974$281,200$202 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Dove Creek, CO 81324 81%695$71,630$223,100— cheaper homes ($26K less) · more homeowners · newer homes
Burney, CA 96013 81%279$53,688$227,500$175 larger · more single-family homes
South Bend, WA 98586 81%282$50,893$261,000$213 Very close on everything we compare
Whitefield, NH 03598 80%2,304$67,179$227,600$224 8 min longer commute
Newport, ME 04953 80%2,404$60,365$234,800$182 8 min longer commute
Deer Lodge, MT 59722 80%330$62,230$279,000$174 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · younger residents
Coulee City, WA 99115 80%220$62,708$247,200$155 smaller · 10 min longer commute
Wrangell, AK 99929 80%1,015$64,375$296,800$198 pricier homes ($48K more) · younger residents · 8 min shorter commute
Watkins Glen, NY 14891 79%2,093$61,875$164,700$184 cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger · younger residents
Choteau, MT 59422 79%400$67,500$256,500$184 younger residents · more single-family homes
Jonesburg, MO 63351 79%1,470$67,500$207,100$202 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Concordia, MO 64020 79%1,356$59,269$201,500$138 cheaper homes ($47K less) · more single-family homes
Canadian, TX 79014 79%1,139$62,273$204,300$153 cheaper homes ($44K less) · younger residents
Warrensburg, NY 12885 78%2,218$59,429$169,800$169 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Mc Connellsburg, PA 17233 78%2,098$61,296$195,500$166 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Park River, ND 58270 78%1,044$69,811$164,200$129 cheaper homes ($85K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Loup City, NE 68853 78%1,032$54,674$135,000$159 cheaper homes ($114K less) · smaller

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.