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 Olalla, WA 98359

Olalla: median income $114,091, home value $610,500, $388/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
El Dorado, CA 95623 95%614$109,102$601,800$335 Very close on everything we compare
Beavercreek, OR 97004 91%150$112,667$721,300$425 pricier homes ($111K more) · older homes
Gaston, OR 97119 90%140$115,515$629,000$300 older homes
Fremont, NH 03044 89%2,477$120,781$416,900$325 cheaper homes ($194K less)
Plympton, MA 02367 87%2,523$126,736$517,800$380 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Dighton, MA 02715 87%2,512$140,066$489,900$391 higher income ($26K more) · cheaper homes ($121K less)
Strafford, NH 03884 87%2,468$122,105$427,900$308 cheaper homes ($183K less)
Boring, OR 97009 87%138$106,650$647,500$335 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Mulino, OR 97042 87%153$118,045$687,700$341 pricier homes ($77K more) · older homes
Bluemont, VA 20135 86%2,290$114,219$573,500$347 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 5 min longer commute
Street, MD 21154 86%2,339$97,658$455,400$257 cheaper homes ($155K less)
Florence, MT 59833 86%403$94,097$551,600$333 cheaper homes ($59K less) · 6 min longer commute
Huntsville, UT 84317 86%682$130,040$762,700$418 pricier homes ($152K more) · smaller
Herald, CA 95638 86%634$91,500$713,600$369 pricier homes ($103K more) · smaller
Hubbardston, MA 01452 85%2,452$123,500$371,600$311 cheaper homes ($239K less)
Eagle, WI 53119 85%1,677$117,759$416,500$292 cheaper homes ($194K less)
Rochester, MA 02770 84%2,527$120,320$601,200$348 more single-family homes
Dunbarton, NH 03046 84%2,451$124,348$484,100$272 cheaper homes ($126K less)
Danville, NH 03819 84%2,479$112,335$436,300$296 cheaper homes ($174K less) · younger residents
Hampstead, NH 03841 84%2,478$104,044$510,100$307 cheaper homes ($100K less) · more walkable
Newton, NH 03858 84%2,485$138,487$459,500$290 cheaper homes ($151K less)
Sandown, NH 03873 84%2,476$135,040$483,400$324 cheaper homes ($127K less) · younger residents
North Berwick, ME 03906 84%2,486$105,156$432,900$325 cheaper homes ($178K less) · younger residents
Manorville, NY 11949 84%2,466$138,864$601,600$339 larger
Amissville, VA 20106 84%2,295$108,469$521,900$281 cheaper homes ($89K less) · more single-family homes

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.