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 Ferndale, WA 98248

Ferndale: median income $91,060, home value $589,600, $373/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rathdrum, ID 83858 93%272$95,380$507,600$341 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Redmond, OR 97756 93%324$87,278$489,900$318 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger
Belgrade, MT 59714 92%576$96,183$548,600$316 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Columbia Falls, MT 59912 92%386$76,617$488,800$399 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller
Hayden, ID 83835 90%279$91,316$562,000$337 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents
Durango, CO 81303 89%1,097$88,103$597,300$403 smaller
Washington, UT 84780 89%930$91,963$570,800$279 newer homes
Helena, MT 59602 88%515$92,985$408,600$270 cheaper homes ($181K less)
Indio, CA 92203 88%1,093$97,311$553,700$263 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Lodi, CA 95242 87%744$104,721$567,100$326 Very close on everything we compare
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815 86%278$77,864$498,300$313 cheaper homes ($91K less)
Sparks, NV 89436 86%654$114,100$588,500$303 larger
Fruita, CO 81521 85%959$88,458$422,900$294 cheaper homes ($167K less) · smaller · older residents
Hurricane, UT 84737 85%933$75,545$460,400$275 cheaper homes ($129K less)
Atascadero, CA 93422 85%930$91,780$737,600$438 pricier homes ($148K more) · more walkable
Oregon City, OR 97045 85%244$103,573$587,700$313 larger · more walkable
Ashland, VA 23005 84%2,356$89,335$402,700$256 cheaper homes ($187K less)
Kalispell, MT 59901 84%382$72,523$476,300$334 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger
Gypsum, CO 81637 84%998$109,209$616,200$397 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Post Falls, ID 83854 84%272$82,742$489,800$291 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger
Beaverton, OR 97078 84%236$90,606$478,800$318 cheaper homes ($111K less) · more renters · older homes
Traverse City, MI 49685 83%1,754$84,590$358,500$261 cheaper homes ($231K less)
Boise, ID 83709 83%473$92,786$474,000$286 cheaper homes ($116K less) · larger · more walkable
Heber City, UT 84032 83%796$103,440$731,800$340 pricier homes ($142K more)
Reno, NV 89506 83%651$86,396$410,700$294 cheaper homes ($179K 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.