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 Joseph, OR 97846

Joseph: median income $71,471, home value $383,200, $341/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Baileys Harbor, WI 54202 94%1,454$73,784$432,200$406 pricier homes ($49K more)
Grand Marais, MN 55604 93%1,281$73,427$352,500$369 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
New Buffalo, MI 49117 88%1,535$75,114$488,000$351 pricier homes ($105K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Saint Regis, MT 59866 88%168$73,462$343,700$304 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · younger residents
Chincoteague Island, VA 23336 87%2,195$63,464$346,700$288 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Elk Rapids, MI 49629 87%1,541$65,302$394,600$333 older homes
Philipsburg, MT 59858 87%199$56,719$380,000$316 6 min longer commute
Chattanooga, TN 37419 86%1,811$74,787$351,800$245 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Dubois, WY 82513 86%393$66,332$382,600$330 Very close on everything we compare
Moyie Springs, ID 83845 86%240$72,695$373,700$325 Very close on everything we compare
Boothbay, ME 04537 85%2,308$76,667$358,600$296 more homeowners
Newcastle, ME 04553 85%2,309$89,868$398,000$321 younger residents
Ludlow, VT 05149 85%2,174$64,191$365,300$300 more apartments and townhomes
Minocqua, WI 54548 85%1,321$69,569$336,400$288 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Red Lodge, MT 59068 85%386$80,962$438,700$366 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Paonia, CO 81428 85%665$75,799$432,700$279 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger · younger residents
Mackay, ID 83251 85%203$73,482$366,900$286 Very close on everything we compare
El Prado, NM 87529 85%864$61,618$487,300$336 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger
Murphys, CA 95247 85%526$76,333$537,400$306 pricier homes ($154K more) · larger
Blue Hill, ME 04614 84%2,344$80,377$399,500$276 younger residents
Sedgwick, ME 04676 84%2,344$73,333$336,500$235 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Lincolnville, ME 04849 84%2,324$80,377$360,600$329 larger · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Schroon Lake, NY 12870 84%2,114$72,628$268,700$382 cheaper homes ($115K less) · more homeowners
Frankfort, MI 49635 84%1,506$72,422$366,700$263 larger · older residents
Bellaire, MI 49615 83%1,548$79,469$292,300$251 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger · more homeowners

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.