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 Kelso, WA 98626

Kelso: median income $75,528, home value $368,900, $269/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cottage Grove, OR 97424 97%164$79,688$372,500$275 Very close on everything we compare
Red Bluff, CA 96080 94%414$66,076$343,700$232 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Springfield, OR 97478 94%145$80,086$387,700$305 Very close on everything we compare
Orland, CA 95963 93%445$68,091$372,900$259 smaller
Anderson, CA 96007 92%394$61,357$309,700$256 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Salem, OR 97317 92%86$84,393$402,800$299 pricier homes ($34K more)
Madras, OR 97741 92%135$70,983$334,800$247 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Kingsburg, CA 93631 91%688$79,228$396,800$276 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Willits, CA 95490 91%464$79,594$392,700$254 smaller
Woodburn, OR 97071 90%69$70,938$340,800$275 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more walkable
Tillamook, OR 97141 90%66$69,831$398,100$335 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller
Lebanon, OR 97355 90%112$68,595$371,700$286 6 min longer commute
Sanford, ME 04073 89%2,517$72,917$282,900$269 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller
Carson City, NV 89701 89%509$73,184$444,500$299 pricier homes ($76K more)
Sanger, CA 93657 89%674$78,904$396,200$241 pricier homes ($27K more) · younger residents
Oroville, CA 95966 89%466$65,586$333,100$228 cheaper homes ($36K less) · less walkable
Junction City, OR 97448 89%136$81,029$478,700$288 pricier homes ($110K more) · smaller
Fallon, NV 89406 88%506$79,163$329,900$256 cheaper homes ($39K less) · less walkable · newer homes
Crescent City, CA 95531 88%308$67,458$351,400$247 Very close on everything we compare
Dallas, OR 97338 88%87$78,858$424,400$284 pricier homes ($56K more) · 5 min longer commute · newer homes
Stayton, OR 97383 88%93$78,853$423,600$288 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller
Grants Pass, OR 97526 88%256$61,019$399,700$251 pricier homes ($31K more)
Addison, IL 60101 87%1,742$90,800$338,800$233 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Canon City, CO 81212 87%1,045$64,235$329,000$226 cheaper homes ($40K less)
Colusa, CA 95932 87%480$66,964$389,600$243 smaller

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.