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 Mount Vernon, WA 98273

Mount Vernon: median income $76,717, home value $492,300, $331/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Beaverton, OR 97078 94%208$90,606$478,800$318 Very close on everything we compare
Sparks, NV 89434 93%626$91,507$457,000$302 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Carson City, NV 89701 93%653$73,184$444,500$299 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Naples, FL 34116 92%2,658$73,958$430,200$311 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Grand Terrace, CA 92313 91%1,027$83,628$517,600$344 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller
Lompoc, CA 93436 90%956$80,097$504,000$389 larger
Redding, CA 96003 90%539$72,445$402,900$254 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Stayton, OR 97383 90%252$78,853$423,600$288 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Springfield, OR 97478 89%304$80,086$387,700$305 cheaper homes ($105K less)
Kingsburg, CA 93631 88%835$79,228$396,800$276 cheaper homes ($96K less) · smaller
Ukiah, CA 95482 88%643$69,772$491,300$343 more walkable
Brandon, FL 33510 87%2,546$74,245$328,200$216 cheaper homes ($164K less)
Kalispell, MT 59901 87%363$72,523$476,300$334 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Dallas, OR 97338 87%248$78,858$424,400$284 cheaper homes ($68K less) · older residents
Junction City, OR 97448 87%297$81,029$478,700$288 smaller · older residents
Goodlettsville, TN 37072 86%1,972$78,123$378,100$221 cheaper homes ($114K less)
Columbia Falls, MT 59912 86%368$76,617$488,800$399 smaller
Loveland, CO 80537 86%1,008$86,325$484,300$252 Very close on everything we compare
Post Falls, ID 83854 86%248$82,742$489,800$291 larger · newer homes
Reno, NV 89506 86%618$86,396$410,700$294 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · newer homes
Cathedral City, CA 92234 86%1,053$73,572$453,100$290 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · more walkable
Mentone, CA 92359 86%1,026$77,846$431,200$332 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Lodi, CA 95240 86%714$82,137$472,100$339 larger · older homes
Citrus Heights, CA 95610 86%675$83,327$485,900$319 larger · more walkable
Orland, CA 95963 86%601$68,091$372,900$259 cheaper homes ($119K less) · smaller

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.