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 South Bend, WA 98586

South Bend: median income $50,893, home value $261,000, $213/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Crosby, MN 56441 90%1,408$50,298$208,700$209 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Harborcreek, PA 16421 89%2,159$64,091$224,200$184 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Conyngham, PA 18219 89%2,376$52,566$236,200— smaller · younger residents
Melfa, VA 23410 88%2,499$54,050$195,100$193 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Garberville, CA 95542 88%454$46,104$395,500$212 pricier homes ($135K more)
Del Norte, CO 81132 87%1,084$55,000$209,500$235 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Newport, ME 04953 86%2,580$60,365$234,800$182 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Canyonville, OR 97417 86%259$50,217$246,200$269 Very close on everything we compare
Apalachicola, FL 32320 85%2,377$46,713$241,500$279 larger · more homeowners · newer homes
Concordia, MO 64020 85%1,610$59,269$201,500$138 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Loyalton, CA 96118 85%516$54,167$243,800$229 more homeowners
New Lebanon, NY 12125 84%2,457$55,625$275,900$211 smaller · more homeowners
Strattanville, PA 16258 84%2,217$55,188$183,800— cheaper homes ($77K less) · more homeowners
Blanch, NC 27212 84%2,373$57,108$190,400$159 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Whitefield, NH 03598 83%2,486$67,179$227,600$224 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Burney, CA 96013 83%412$53,688$227,500$175 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Gerber, CA 96035 83%464$49,760$237,900$258 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Great Bend, PA 18821 82%2,361$52,857$171,800$156 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller
New Market, VA 22844 82%2,326$65,974$281,200$202 larger · newer homes
Exmore, VA 23350 82%2,498$48,712$170,500$154 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger · newer homes
Portola, CA 96122 82%502$54,205$273,700$254 larger
Colebrook, NH 03576 81%2,478$52,682$214,900$204 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · older residents
Madison, ME 04950 81%2,555$61,747$187,600$197 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Bomoseen, VT 05732 81%2,432$43,462$257,800$191 smaller
Funkstown, MD 21734 81%2,341$61,392$277,800$201 smaller · more apartments and townhomes · older 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.