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 Tenino, WA 98589

Tenino: median income $83,855, home value $438,700, $317/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Stevensville, MT 59870 94%418$80,325$515,600$354 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger
Watertown, TN 37184 93%2,018$83,125$346,900$238 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Melba, ID 83641 92%390$84,730$425,700$296 smaller
Carver, MA 02330 90%2,547$91,250$434,200$357 larger · older homes
Priest River, ID 83856 90%291$75,285$427,900$333 Very close on everything we compare
Colfax, CA 95713 90%546$87,839$487,000$312 pricier homes ($48K more)
Friendsville, TN 37737 89%2,127$81,706$320,500$266 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Three Forks, MT 59752 89%543$86,767$461,100$334 6 min shorter commute
Center Point, TX 78010 89%1,728$86,830$318,600$226 cheaper homes ($120K less) · smaller
Bristol, NH 03222 88%2,452$81,587$313,000$348 cheaper homes ($126K less) · older homes
Appling, GA 30802 88%2,295$85,625$322,000$215 cheaper homes ($117K less)
Dadeville, AL 36853 88%2,167$73,594$292,200$352 cheaper homes ($147K less)
Platteville, CO 80651 88%1,011$81,586$474,700$277 pricier homes ($36K more)
Idaho City, ID 83631 88%403$80,714$409,800$264 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Terrebonne, OR 97760 88%188$87,603$486,700$359 pricier homes ($48K more) · older residents
Berwick, ME 03901 87%2,502$94,771$369,100$261 cheaper homes ($70K less) · younger residents
Poland, ME 04274 87%2,502$85,557$283,600$275 cheaper homes ($155K less)
Calverton, NY 11933 87%2,485$74,195$444,100$400 older residents
Street, MD 21154 87%2,355$97,658$455,400$257 Very close on everything we compare
Bethpage, TN 37022 87%1,994$79,375$287,900$269 cheaper homes ($151K less)
Somerset, WI 54025 87%1,444$86,930$386,500$198 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Bates City, MO 64011 87%1,542$82,981$377,100$200 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Harper, TX 78631 87%1,702$78,560$351,600$247 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller
Brownsville, OR 97327 87%172$81,267$396,200$241 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · older homes
Talking Rock, GA 30175 86%2,156$69,737$332,700$244 cheaper homes ($106K 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.