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 Toledo, WA 98591

Toledo: median income $78,952, home value $471,100, $324/sq ft, 36-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Priest River, ID 83856 95%302$75,285$427,900$333 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Garden Valley, CA 95633 92%533$74,258$434,200$304 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Idaho City, ID 83631 91%389$80,714$409,800$264 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Melba, ID 83641 90%373$84,730$425,700$296 cheaper homes ($45K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Eagle Creek, OR 97022 90%78$92,945$630,800$309 pricier homes ($160K more)
Monroe, OR 97456 90%148$71,111$407,700$327 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Street, MD 21154 89%2,357$97,658$455,400$257 larger
Mc Clellanville, SC 29458 89%2,441$86,431$370,900$337 cheaper homes ($100K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Townsend, MT 59644 89%540$68,811$361,500$300 cheaper homes ($110K less)
Graford, TX 76449 89%1,592$72,813$398,700$299 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller · older residents
Platteville, CO 80651 89%1,000$81,586$474,700$277 younger residents
Colfax, CA 95713 89%517$87,839$487,000$312 larger
Scio, OR 97374 89%119$97,207$560,600$285 pricier homes ($90K more)
Brookfield, MA 01506 88%2,481$81,250$341,900$267 cheaper homes ($129K less)
Bates City, MO 64011 88%1,536$82,981$377,100$200 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Spirit Lake, ID 83869 88%299$67,099$466,000$368 newer homes
Carver, MA 02330 87%2,552$91,250$434,200$357 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Moncure, NC 27559 87%2,365$74,490$385,000$233 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller
Alberton, MT 59820 87%396$69,091$367,400$285 cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller
Stevensville, MT 59870 87%417$80,325$515,600$354 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Vernonia, OR 97064 87%44$67,317$383,600$298 cheaper homes ($88K less) · younger residents
Milton, NH 03851 86%2,497$93,412$314,300$376 cheaper homes ($157K less)
Effingham, NH 03882 86%2,491$76,607$322,700$294 cheaper homes ($148K less) · smaller
Darlington, MD 21034 86%2,364$78,047$401,500$218 cheaper homes ($70K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Joelton, TN 37080 86%1,968$87,963$333,700$232 cheaper homes ($137K less) · larger

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.