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 98274

Mount Vernon: median income $96,177, home value $547,700, $360/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hayden, ID 83835 95%252$91,316$562,000$337 Very close on everything we compare
Rathdrum, ID 83858 95%245$95,380$507,600$341 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Columbia Falls, MT 59912 91%365$76,617$488,800$399 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Fruita, CO 81521 91%921$88,458$422,900$294 cheaper homes ($125K less)
Manhattan, MT 59741 90%539$90,947$615,200$382 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller
Lodi, CA 95242 90%708$104,721$567,100$326 larger
Creswell, OR 97426 90%311$90,125$488,000$284 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Gorham, ME 04038 89%2,452$112,312$460,900$301 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 88%2,407$90,013$370,500$283 cheaper homes ($177K less)
Helena, MT 59602 88%488$92,985$408,600$270 cheaper homes ($139K less) · larger
Woodland Park, CO 80863 88%1,067$104,779$572,100$261 smaller
Bayfield, CO 81122 88%1,060$93,714$459,800$322 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller
Jacksonville, OR 97530 88%429$89,239$617,400$313 pricier homes ($70K more) · smaller · older residents
Windham, ME 04062 87%2,452$107,934$388,900$317 cheaper homes ($159K less)
Indio, CA 92203 87%1,054$97,311$553,700$263 larger · newer homes
Redmond, OR 97756 87%286$87,278$489,900$318 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
North Dartmouth, MA 02747 86%2,494$102,079$484,800$309 cheaper homes ($63K less) · more walkable · older homes
South Berwick, ME 03908 86%2,452$98,289$425,700$274 cheaper homes ($122K less) · smaller
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 86%2,484$86,193$437,500$368 cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller · older residents
Adel, IA 50003 86%1,440$103,114$395,400$256 cheaper homes ($152K less) · smaller
Mukwonago, WI 53149 86%1,662$110,608$414,200$240 cheaper homes ($134K less)
East Helena, MT 59635 86%493$83,740$395,600$277 cheaper homes ($152K less) · smaller
Durango, CO 81303 86%1,058$88,103$597,300$403 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Exeter, RI 02822 85%2,468$112,813$520,100$345 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Ashland, VA 23005 85%2,334$89,335$402,700$256 cheaper homes ($145K less)

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.