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 Ariel, WA 98603

Ariel: median income $78,281, home value $464,500, $291/sq ft, 48-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Houston, AK 99694 85%1,532$74,531$290,100$276 cheaper homes ($174K less)
Boston, VA 22713 79%2,293$90,795$377,200$249 cheaper homes ($87K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Readyville, TN 37149 79%1,998$78,345$402,900$268 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · more homeowners
Roberts, MT 59070 75%642$96,250$531,000$349 pricier homes ($67K more) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Marydel, DE 19964 74%2,391$99,402$329,900$238 cheaper homes ($135K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Nanjemoy, MD 20662 74%2,341$86,699$397,300$191 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · more homeowners
Shipman, VA 22971 74%2,286$79,135$319,000$260 cheaper homes ($146K less) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Sharps Chapel, TN 37866 74%2,094$77,091$279,000$284 cheaper homes ($186K less) · larger · more homeowners
Pinon Hills, CA 92372 74%837$66,471$459,400$217 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Big Lake, AK 99652 74%1,531$78,578$294,800$312 cheaper homes ($170K less) · larger · 9 min shorter commute
Concord, GA 30206 73%2,187$88,205$282,600$197 cheaper homes ($182K less) · larger
Ramah, CO 80832 73%1,046$90,556$450,000$205 more homeowners
Ridgely, MD 21660 72%2,388$80,469$359,300$255 cheaper homes ($105K less) · larger · younger residents
Unionville, VA 22567 72%2,313$112,813$391,200$241 higher income ($35K more) · cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger
Sumerduck, VA 22742 72%2,316$103,447$464,600$359 higher income ($25K more) · 9 min shorter commute · older homes
Suffolk, VA 23437 72%2,421$80,833$323,800$221 cheaper homes ($141K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Cumberland Furnace, TN 37051 72%1,926$69,545$342,500$241 cheaper homes ($122K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Deer Trail, CO 80105 72%1,029$79,792$374,300$154 cheaper homes ($90K less) · larger · more homeowners
Knotts Island, NC 27950 71%2,465$88,250$290,300$255 cheaper homes ($174K less) · more homeowners
Lexington, TX 78947 71%1,737$84,649$319,600$231 cheaper homes ($145K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Campo, CA 91906 71%974$62,500$327,600$294 cheaper homes ($137K less) · larger · older residents
Meansville, GA 30256 70%2,196$73,571$299,000$200 cheaper homes ($166K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Elmwood, TN 38560 70%2,000$77,986$241,300$249 cheaper homes ($223K less) · younger residents · older homes
Reelsville, IN 46171 70%1,839$83,607$287,100$208 cheaper homes ($177K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Grizzly Flats, CA 95636 70%517$92,004$384,400$286 cheaper homes ($80K less) · 9 min longer commute · more homeowners

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.