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 Ephrata, WA 98823

Ephrata: median income $73,074, home value $267,300, $223/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Morgan, CO 80701 95%920$70,302$347,600$189 pricier homes ($80K more)
Midland, TX 79703 94%1,399$77,285$224,000— cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Burley, ID 83318 94%432$71,282$276,500$199 larger
Gooding, ID 83330 93%381$60,842$254,900$235 smaller
Quarryville, PA 17566 91%2,200$78,108$306,200$233 pricier homes ($39K more)
Artesia, NM 88210 91%1,274$79,632$223,800$165 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Fresno, CA 93725 91%736$72,232$281,800$257 larger
Willows, CA 95988 91%552$66,339$297,200$241 pricier homes ($30K more) · older residents
Worthington, MN 56187 90%1,182$64,326$219,000$158 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Wendell, ID 83355 90%391$65,764$283,300$227 smaller
Saint Anthony, ID 83445 90%442$68,012$283,800$190 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Roosevelt, UT 84066 90%675$79,494$286,800$182 newer homes
Susanville, CA 96130 90%478$72,465$256,000$171 larger · older residents
Madras, OR 97741 90%198$70,983$334,800$247 pricier homes ($68K more) · older residents
Jonestown, PA 17038 89%2,166$75,417$252,600$193 older residents
Dalton, OH 44618 89%1,912$74,403$248,800$212 smaller
Orrville, OH 44667 89%1,907$75,616$208,600$166 cheaper homes ($59K less) · older residents
Little Chute, WI 54140 89%1,508$82,472$227,000$168 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Saint Joseph, MN 56374 89%1,201$80,156$292,000$174 Very close on everything we compare
Athens, TX 75751 89%1,623$70,620$209,400$156 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger
Jerome, ID 83338 89%399$72,072$269,000$241 larger
Mountain Home, ID 83647 89%341$63,760$320,400$225 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Orland, CA 95963 89%539$68,091$372,900$259 pricier homes ($106K more) · older residents
Kenai, AK 99611 89%1,561$79,757$308,500$245 pricier homes ($41K more)
Shippensburg, PA 17257 88%2,131$71,181$227,900$156 cheaper homes ($39K 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.