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 La Conner, WA 98257

La Conner: median income $94,425, home value $506,200, $300/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wolfeboro, NH 03894 95%2,440$94,349$548,600$347 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Enfield, NH 03748 93%2,397$95,089$388,500$290 cheaper homes ($118K less)
White Stone, VA 22578 91%2,405$80,783$441,600$252 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller
Meredith, NH 03253 89%2,425$84,719$482,700$354 larger · younger residents
Custer, SD 57730 89%970$83,469$378,800$279 cheaper homes ($127K less)
Red Lodge, MT 59068 89%664$80,962$438,700$366 cheaper homes ($68K less)
New Buffalo, MI 49117 88%1,786$75,114$488,000$351 Very close on everything we compare
Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 88%1,770$91,452$483,200$281 larger · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Afton, VA 22920 87%2,281$88,028$410,000$311 cheaper homes ($96K less) · younger residents
Chestertown, NY 12817 86%2,320$93,393$327,600$316 cheaper homes ($179K less) · smaller
Harbor Springs, MI 49740 86%1,763$89,250$363,500$312 cheaper homes ($143K less) · larger · younger residents
Crosslake, MN 56442 86%1,323$79,896$479,800$349 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Murphys, CA 95247 86%718$76,333$537,400$306 pricier homes ($31K more)
Nags Head, NC 27959 85%2,510$91,264$490,800$424 more walkable
Seneca, SC 29672 85%2,221$90,650$482,100$271 larger · younger residents
Kewadin, MI 49648 85%1,759$93,272$633,500$414 pricier homes ($127K more) · smaller
Battle Lake, MN 56515 85%1,257$73,750$398,500$251 cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller
South Dennis, MA 02660 84%2,546$93,386$559,600$549 pricier homes ($53K more)
Moultonborough, NH 03254 84%2,427$106,440$641,300$374 pricier homes ($135K more) · more homeowners
Saint Michaels, MD 21663 84%2,371$89,775$650,500$438 pricier homes ($144K more) · younger residents
Sheridan, MT 59749 84%530$80,238$382,400$332 cheaper homes ($124K less) · smaller
Waterloo, NE 68069 84%1,368$111,974$365,100$254 cheaper homes ($141K less) · younger residents
Angel Fire, NM 87710 84%1,206$83,125$569,200$280 pricier homes ($63K more) · smaller
Rock Hall, MD 21661 83%2,358$90,492$283,200$304 cheaper homes ($223K less) · smaller
Oak Island, NC 28465 83%2,475$86,194$479,500$428 cheaper homes ($27K 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.