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.

Reset

Towns most like Custer, WA 98240

Custer: median income $110,116, home value $619,700, $340/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jefferson, OR 97352 89%290$107,000$441,700$313 cheaper homes ($178K less) · larger
Frenchtown, MT 59834 88%408$94,406$449,500$307 cheaper homes ($170K less)
Narvon, PA 17555 84%2,337$116,429$392,900$334 cheaper homes ($227K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Kimberly, ID 83341 82%595$99,100$411,400$259 cheaper homes ($208K less) · larger
Manhattan, MT 59741 81%571$90,947$615,200$382 larger · older residents
Smartsville, CA 95977 81%675$104,545$441,700$312 cheaper homes ($178K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Dundee, OR 97115 81%254$117,446$526,200$336 cheaper homes ($94K less) · older residents
Aumsville, OR 97325 81%284$100,056$384,000$327 cheaper homes ($236K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Hayden, CO 81639 80%951$110,404$443,600$354 cheaper homes ($176K less) · 8 min longer commute
Coalville, UT 84017 79%785$95,900$620,500$364 8 min longer commute · more renters
Rindge, NH 03461 78%2,426$102,679$415,400$281 cheaper homes ($204K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Audubon, MN 56511 78%1,235$89,875$401,900$261 cheaper homes ($218K less) · smaller · older residents
Loma, CO 81524 78%956$99,947$665,600$369 pricier homes ($46K more) · newer homes
Banks, OR 97106 78%228$104,250$546,400$321 cheaper homes ($73K less) · 6 min longer commute
Southampton, MA 01073 77%2,412$123,125$452,300$303 cheaper homes ($167K less) · larger · older residents
Troy, VA 22974 77%2,314$112,344$368,900$271 cheaper homes ($251K less) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Virginia Beach, VA 23457 77%2,467$116,250$571,000$312 cheaper homes ($49K less) · 11 min longer commute
West Olive, MI 49460 77%1,784$101,966$367,700$251 cheaper homes ($252K less) · larger
Pinedale, WY 82941 77%742$91,429$345,700$265 cheaper homes ($274K less)
Soulsbyville, CA 95372 77%765$97,398$408,300$255 cheaper homes ($211K less) · smaller · older residents
Turner, OR 97392 77%283$109,237$576,000$314 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · older residents
West Greenwich, RI 02817 76%2,480$135,625$535,400$274 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($84K less) · larger
Exeter, RI 02822 76%2,484$112,813$520,100$345 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger · more renters
Kila, MT 59920 76%376$86,605$722,500$346 pricier homes ($103K more) · smaller · older residents
La Salle, CO 80645 76%1,058$87,609$427,200$256 cheaper homes ($193K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes

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.