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 Orondo, WA 98843

Orondo: median income $69,425, home value $750,900, $295/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lakeside, MT 59922 78%276$87,237$657,500$298 cheaper homes ($93K less) · older residents
Chappell Hill, TX 77426 78%1,753$80,446$592,300$246 cheaper homes ($159K less) · 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Marsing, ID 83639 78%330$64,042$461,900$289 cheaper homes ($289K less) · more homeowners
Mount Hood Parkdale, OR 97041 78%167$82,679$705,600$416 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older homes
Sublimity, OR 97385 77%234$84,796$494,600$308 cheaper homes ($256K less) · larger · more homeowners
Ranchester, WY 82839 76%649$57,708$385,900$324 cheaper homes ($365K less) · smaller
Bonners Ferry, ID 83805 76%191$70,083$418,900$292 cheaper homes ($332K less) · larger
Hickman, CA 95323 75%697$75,938$568,200$441 cheaper homes ($183K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Redwood Valley, CA 95470 73%601$76,250$627,500$356 cheaper homes ($123K less) · larger · younger residents
Bellevue, ID 83313 72%410$74,575$578,000$516 cheaper homes ($173K less) · more walkable
Johnson City, TX 78636 71%1,667$72,663$532,600$263 cheaper homes ($218K less) · larger · older residents
Hilmar, CA 95324 71%712$76,316$462,900$331 cheaper homes ($288K less) · larger · older homes
Corvallis, MT 59828 70%302$80,294$544,500$335 cheaper homes ($206K less) · larger · older residents
Parma, ID 83660 70%312$63,653$417,900$226 cheaper homes ($333K less) · larger · older homes
Williams, AZ 86046 70%935$79,095$418,700$323 cheaper homes ($332K less) · larger · more homeowners
Verdi, NV 89439 70%565$101,250$762,500$359 higher income ($32K more) · more homeowners
San Miguel, CA 93451 70%815$98,188$652,900$416 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger
Fowler, CA 93625 70%765$72,500$392,700$253 cheaper homes ($358K less) · larger · younger residents
Lockeford, CA 95237 70%661$87,117$490,500$291 cheaper homes ($260K less) · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Lanai City, HI 96763 70%2,758$92,417$638,400$517 cheaper homes ($113K less) · older homes
Tangent, OR 97389 70%259$94,909$433,000$295 higher income ($25K more) · cheaper homes ($318K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Three Forks, MT 59752 69%427$86,767$461,100$334 cheaper homes ($290K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Columbia Falls, MT 59912 69%281$76,617$488,800$399 cheaper homes ($262K less) · larger
Hughson, CA 95326 69%699$87,500$533,100$294 cheaper homes ($218K less) · larger · more walkable
Cloverdale, OR 97112 69%241$61,061$411,500$415 cheaper homes ($339K less) · older homes

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.