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 Harrah, WA 98933

Harrah: median income $75,972, home value $241,400, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Poth, TX 78147 94%1,705$72,404$225,000$187 Very close on everything we compare
Piffard, NY 14533 93%2,087$68,170$184,900$138 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Ferron, UT 84523 93%696$71,212$229,500$204 Very close on everything we compare
Elkton, SD 57026 92%1,174$80,568$213,200$130 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Castorland, NY 13620 91%2,175$70,087$181,800$79 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Jackson Center, OH 45334 91%1,861$70,595$196,800$156 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Hokah, MN 55941 90%1,429$72,500$219,400$253 older homes
Brewster, MN 56119 90%1,234$83,583$183,700$137 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Terreton, ID 83450 90%435$70,046$231,300— Very close on everything we compare
Belgrade, MN 56312 89%1,226$70,000$249,800$177 larger · more homeowners
Burlington, ND 58722 89%903$85,417$275,000$159 pricier homes ($34K more)
Stuyvesant, NY 12173 88%2,294$76,607$225,600$228 larger · 5 min longer commute
Bonaparte, IA 52620 88%1,485$79,327$227,500$50 younger residents
Elm Creek, NE 68836 88%1,127$86,806$224,800$115 larger
Blair, OK 73526 88%1,367$65,536$221,600$114 larger
Mont Alto, PA 17237 87%2,188$80,903$193,600$205 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older residents
Leroy, AL 36548 87%2,012$78,676$202,700— cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents
Belmont, WI 53510 87%1,500$82,083$229,800$169 older residents
Chili, WI 54420 87%1,459$79,899$201,300$202 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more homeowners
Velva, ND 58790 87%926$83,233$224,600$108 more homeowners
Williamsfield, OH 44093 86%1,994$74,808$209,300$258 cheaper homes ($32K less) · more homeowners
Plankinton, SD 57368 86%1,091$74,688$202,700$134 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents
Milford, NE 68405 86%1,234$75,250$244,600$153 larger
Cairo, NE 68824 86%1,154$77,989$219,900$115 Very close on everything we compare
Paul, ID 83347 86%424$79,643$296,700$204 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · younger 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.