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 Long Beach, WA 98631

Long Beach: median income $71,705, home value $409,400, $335/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Depoe Bay, OR 97341 90%107$66,331$337,400$363 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Rockaway Beach, OR 97136 88%53$66,106$375,000$372 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Phoenix, OR 97535 88%290$66,052$418,400$264 newer homes
Mount Shasta, CA 96067 86%360$65,000$415,400$247 larger · younger residents
Murphys, CA 95247 85%598$76,333$537,400$306 pricier homes ($128K more)
Chincoteague Island, VA 23336 84%2,519$63,464$346,700$288 cheaper homes ($63K less) · less walkable
Boulder City, NV 89005 83%863$74,375$435,600$289 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · younger residents
Westbrook, CT 06498 82%2,549$91,202$434,300$328 larger
Florence, OR 97439 82%165$61,982$410,900$307 larger
Angels Camp, CA 95222 80%601$70,930$515,100$304 pricier homes ($106K more) · younger residents
Weaverville, CA 96093 80%394$65,741$339,500$225 cheaper homes ($70K less) · more single-family homes
Gold Beach, OR 97444 80%275$64,920$402,700$296 less walkable
North Conway, NH 03860 79%2,533$71,759$401,500$281 more renters · less walkable
Manchester Center, VT 05255 79%2,468$91,058$445,500$270 pricier homes ($36K more) · younger residents
Minocqua, WI 54548 79%1,629$69,569$336,400$288 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · less walkable
Lincoln City, OR 97367 79%102$58,472$424,300$350 larger · younger residents · more renters
Ormond Beach, FL 32176 78%2,583$78,410$416,500$274 larger · 8 min longer commute
Bandon, OR 97411 78%227$50,993$455,800$358 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · less walkable
Lakeside, AZ 85929 77%1,120$62,752$306,900$290 cheaper homes ($103K less) · larger · younger residents
Diamond Springs, CA 95619 77%556$66,429$373,900$321 cheaper homes ($36K less) · younger residents · more renters
Brookings, OR 97415 77%299$69,152$394,800$316 larger · less walkable
Lee, MA 01238 76%2,484$84,591$355,700$297 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · older homes
Belfast, ME 04915 76%2,618$66,362$308,700$271 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · less walkable
Cape Charles, VA 23310 76%2,513$62,500$377,300$318 cheaper homes ($32K less) · more renters · less walkable
Nehalem, OR 97131 76%46$70,833$459,000$356 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller · 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.