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 Lyle, WA 98635

Lyle: median income $61,448, home value $491,900, $270/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Johnson City, TX 78636 88%1,630$72,663$532,600$263 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
South Fork, CO 81154 86%936$77,177$511,300$339 Very close on everything we compare
Philipsburg, MT 59858 85%383$56,719$380,000$316 cheaper homes ($112K less) · older homes
Victor, MT 59875 85%342$63,036$525,500$297 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Cornville, AZ 86325 85%905$74,679$442,800$272 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Williams, OR 97544 85%263$55,583$563,700$298 pricier homes ($72K more) · more single-family homes
Sedgwick, ME 04676 84%2,523$73,333$336,500$235 cheaper homes ($155K less) · smaller
Saluda, NC 28773 84%2,145$70,703$413,700$319 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger
Walker, MN 56484 84%1,267$67,019$311,200$272 cheaper homes ($181K less) · larger
Norwood, CO 81423 84%848$62,125$425,000$292 cheaper homes ($67K less) · 7 min longer commute
Moyie Springs, ID 83845 84%315$72,695$373,700$325 cheaper homes ($118K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Bethel, ME 04217 83%2,421$61,125$329,700$274 cheaper homes ($162K less) · larger
Blue Hill, ME 04614 83%2,523$80,377$399,500$276 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger
Mancos, CO 81328 83%884$72,522$412,700$293 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger
Whitewater, CO 81527 83%804$76,815$425,600$328 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Garden Valley, ID 83622 83%289$65,625$576,800$332 pricier homes ($85K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Worley, ID 83876 83%237$60,729$536,700$411 pricier homes ($45K more) · older homes
Grandy, NC 27939 82%2,421$62,463$306,100$247 cheaper homes ($186K less)
Lakemont, GA 30552 82%2,112$66,316$354,700$390 cheaper homes ($137K less) · more homeowners
Deerwood, MN 56444 82%1,306$77,500$365,200$238 cheaper homes ($127K less) · larger
Darby, MT 59829 82%340$63,650$437,900$315 cheaper homes ($54K less) · older homes
El Prado, NM 87529 82%1,036$61,618$487,300$336 larger · older residents
Cascade Locks, OR 97014 82%30$75,000$387,700$246 cheaper homes ($104K less) · older homes
Young Harris, GA 30582 81%2,082$59,360$329,900$212 cheaper homes ($162K less) · larger
Golden, MO 65658 81%1,561$51,641$321,800$215 cheaper homes ($170K less) · older residents

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.