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 Sumas, WA 98295

Sumas: median income $98,965, home value $456,200, $296/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Denair, CA 95316 90%793$97,764$483,900$300 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Arbuckle, CA 95912 88%688$86,457$435,800$301 5 min shorter commute
Williams, CA 95987 88%680$95,122$388,700$235 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Hubbard, OR 97032 87%263$101,250$456,600$291 larger · more homeowners
Wheatland, CA 95692 86%688$95,877$471,800$307 larger · more walkable
Amity, OR 97101 86%270$99,837$581,500$258 pricier homes ($125K more) · more homeowners
San Miguel, CA 93451 85%907$98,188$652,900$416 pricier homes ($197K more) · larger
Linden, CA 95236 85%758$104,703$650,500$378 pricier homes ($194K more)
Hughson, CA 95326 85%789$87,500$533,100$294 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger · more walkable
Lockeford, CA 95237 84%749$87,117$490,500$291 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Culver, OR 97734 83%314$82,429$346,500$271 cheaper homes ($110K less) · more homeowners
Bradley, CA 93426 82%912$102,500$458,400$333 smaller · older residents
Paradise, PA 17562 81%2,317$108,462$390,600$212 cheaper homes ($66K less) · younger residents
Strasburg, PA 17579 81%2,314$91,621$349,400$240 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger · more homeowners
Bowling Green, VA 22427 81%2,342$81,488$315,700$214 cheaper homes ($141K less)
Remington, VA 22734 81%2,294$80,389$373,700$249 cheaper homes ($83K less) · 9 min longer commute
Walworth, WI 53184 81%1,665$84,413$315,100$224 cheaper homes ($141K less)
Hilmar, CA 95324 80%802$76,316$462,900$331 larger · 7 min shorter commute
Hopland, CA 95449 80%695$90,469$640,600$346 pricier homes ($184K more) · smaller · more renters
Biggs, CA 95917 80%661$90,563$362,800$188 cheaper homes ($93K less) · more homeowners
Fort Montgomery, NY 10922 79%2,366$123,406$403,900$255 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Scotrun, PA 18355 79%2,315$96,364$297,600$190 cheaper homes ($159K less) · smaller
Old Monroe, MO 63369 79%1,695$96,250$339,400$228 cheaper homes ($117K less) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Coalville, UT 84017 79%773$95,900$620,500$364 pricier homes ($164K more) · more homeowners
Exeter, CA 93221 79%889$86,940$360,900$269 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute

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.