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 Ontario, OR 97914

Ontario: median income $50,857, home value $249,200, $191/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Blythe, CA 92225 94%732$55,725$218,000$161 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Yreka, CA 96097 91%328$53,059$277,600$186 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Knoxville, TN 37912 89%1,818$47,416$210,900$221 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 5 min longer commute
Yakima, WA 98901 89%246$57,392$279,600$217 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Billings, MT 59101 87%432$58,598$268,700$214 larger
Sterling, CO 80751 87%740$48,682$252,900$170 older homes
Riverton, WY 82501 87%445$60,449$237,800$164 less walkable
Louisville, KY 40219 86%1,668$55,720$204,200$167 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Great Falls, MT 59405 86%365$59,449$250,100$194 larger
Kansas City, MO 64117 86%1,204$59,601$186,900$164 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Price, UT 84501 86%441$58,617$243,800$149 smaller
Tucson, AZ 85713 86%881$53,152$193,300$203 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Farmington, NM 87401 86%684$61,886$215,300$183 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Pensacola, FL 32534 85%1,866$58,992$219,400$164 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 7 min longer commute
Ocala, FL 34470 85%2,167$52,083$189,600$161 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Knoxville, TN 37921 85%1,818$60,013$226,300$220 Very close on everything we compare
Elkhart, IN 46517 85%1,570$56,772$177,200$155 cheaper homes ($72K less) · less walkable
Rapid City, SD 57701 85%683$56,461$251,200$211 larger
Midland, TX 79701 85%1,159$57,346$214,700$141 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Cheyenne, WY 82007 85%651$58,745$234,200$200 newer homes
Gainesville, FL 32609 84%2,136$49,406$178,900$187 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Vero Beach, FL 32960 84%2,315$54,682$280,000$211 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents
Lake Wales, FL 33853 84%2,247$44,474$209,300$144 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Clarksville, IN 47129 84%1,660$56,185$170,600$139 cheaper homes ($79K less)
Clifton, CO 81520 84%558$50,283$249,600$261 smaller · 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.