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 Lynden, WA 98264

Lynden: median income $103,638, home value $609,100, $341/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Belgrade, MT 59714 92%572$96,183$548,600$316 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Dixon, CA 95620 92%726$103,054$619,800$339 6 min longer commute
Lodi, CA 95242 90%749$104,721$567,100$326 cheaper homes ($42K less) · older residents
Gypsum, CO 81637 89%995$109,209$616,200$397 smaller
Sparks, NV 89434 89%663$91,507$457,000$302 cheaper homes ($152K less)
Winters, CA 95694 89%719$109,696$658,400$360 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller
Redmond, OR 97756 89%328$87,278$489,900$318 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger
Atascadero, CA 93422 88%935$91,780$737,600$438 pricier homes ($129K more)
Ripon, CA 95366 87%776$112,097$707,800$373 pricier homes ($99K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Hillsboro, OR 97123 87%239$109,985$538,500$298 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · more walkable
Beaverton, OR 97078 86%241$90,606$478,800$318 cheaper homes ($130K less) · 6 min longer commute
Post Falls, ID 83854 85%267$82,742$489,800$291 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger
Washington, UT 84780 85%931$91,963$570,800$279 cheaper homes ($38K less) · newer homes
Chico, CA 95973 85%632$92,813$489,900$313 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger
Canby, OR 97013 85%255$101,832$562,300$317 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents · more walkable
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815 84%274$77,864$498,300$313 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger
Rathdrum, ID 83858 84%267$95,380$507,600$341 cheaper homes ($102K less) · more homeowners
Paso Robles, CA 93446 84%923$97,943$707,500$431 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger · older residents
Beaverton, OR 97003 84%237$99,072$478,300$313 cheaper homes ($131K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Oregon City, OR 97045 84%249$103,573$587,700$313 larger · 7 min longer commute
Albany, OR 97321 84%298$99,416$473,100$267 cheaper homes ($136K less)
Columbia Falls, MT 59912 83%380$76,617$488,800$399 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($120K less)
North Salt Lake, UT 84054 83%759$101,860$505,500$265 cheaper homes ($104K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85024 83%1,183$106,724$471,000$303 cheaper homes ($138K less)
Reno, NV 89506 83%655$86,396$410,700$294 cheaper homes ($198K 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.