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 Onalaska, WA 98570

Onalaska: median income $95,795, home value $428,200, $293/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Amity, OR 97101 88%103$99,837$581,500$258 pricier homes ($153K more)
Lockeford, CA 95237 87%587$87,117$490,500$291 pricier homes ($62K more) · 5 min shorter commute · more walkable
Rainier, OR 97048 87%37$77,171$368,600$235 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Sterling, CT 06377 86%2,501$97,308$275,900$298 cheaper homes ($152K less) · smaller
Holtwood, PA 17532 86%2,347$84,562$348,600$312 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Melba, ID 83641 86%373$84,730$425,700$296 newer homes
Clatskanie, OR 97016 86%42$79,375$336,000$232 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Scio, OR 97374 86%128$97,207$560,600$285 pricier homes ($132K more)
Milton, NH 03851 84%2,490$93,412$314,300$376 cheaper homes ($114K less) · more homeowners
Pine Bush, NY 12566 84%2,387$112,831$357,000$274 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger
Woodford, VA 22580 83%2,351$93,603$353,800$248 cheaper homes ($74K less) · more homeowners
Fort Lupton, CO 80621 83%1,001$90,055$463,200$240 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · younger residents
Calhan, CO 80808 83%1,065$85,500$411,100$235 6 min longer commute
Elmira, OR 97437 83%175$95,129$517,900$320 pricier homes ($90K more) · smaller · older residents
Wallkill, NY 12589 82%2,395$120,815$378,000$261 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Sullivan, WI 53178 82%1,677$99,875$371,500$239 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller · older residents
Rush City, MN 55069 82%1,417$75,179$281,700$240 cheaper homes ($147K less)
Elverta, CA 95626 82%546$90,897$467,000$344 pricier homes ($39K more) · more single-family homes
Brownsville, OR 97327 82%152$81,267$396,200$241 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Culver, OR 97734 82%161$82,429$346,500$271 cheaper homes ($82K less) · more walkable · newer homes
Taneytown, MD 21787 81%2,312$91,682$355,000$208 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · more walkable
Watkins, MN 55389 81%1,354$96,786$273,700$251 cheaper homes ($155K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Kersey, CO 80644 81%1,003$97,847$409,100$276 smaller · older residents
Denair, CA 95316 81%632$97,764$483,900$300 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger · younger residents
Colfax, CA 95713 81%525$87,839$487,000$312 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · more walkable

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.