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 Selah, WA 98942

Selah: median income $84,646, home value $382,300, $239/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Laurel, MT 59044 96%567$87,648$346,500$231 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Kenai, AK 99611 96%1,560$79,757$308,500$245 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Billings, MT 59105 94%572$78,014$349,300$196 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Kingsburg, CA 93631 93%704$79,228$396,800$276 Very close on everything we compare
Grand Junction, CO 81503 92%808$75,053$352,100$274 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Ocala, FL 34480 91%2,389$77,557$282,700$184 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Grand Junction, CO 81504 91%803$70,958$316,500$260 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Evanston, WY 82930 91%605$81,042$292,800$164 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Shelley, ID 83274 91%470$92,669$379,300$185 smaller
Salt Lake City, UT 84129 91%597$95,844$434,000$242 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger
Tremonton, UT 84337 91%538$81,683$392,700$199 Very close on everything we compare
Exeter, CA 93221 91%720$86,940$360,900$269 more renters
Stayton, OR 97383 91%168$78,853$423,600$288 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Quarryville, PA 17566 90%2,250$78,108$306,200$233 cheaper homes ($76K less) · 6 min longer commute
Stevens, PA 17578 90%2,240$81,990$314,900$196 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Hanahan, SC 29410 90%2,320$87,984$374,800$250 Very close on everything we compare
Grand Rapids, MI 49534 90%1,709$81,657$306,700$207 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Saint Joseph, MN 56374 90%1,252$80,156$292,000$174 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller
Pocatello, ID 83202 90%472$70,423$334,200$180 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Fallon, NV 89406 90%506$79,163$329,900$256 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Cottonwood, CA 96022 90%445$89,338$366,700$261 older residents
Madras, OR 97741 90%144$70,983$334,800$247 cheaper homes ($48K less)
North Pole, AK 99705 90%1,604$96,964$309,500$235 cheaper homes ($73K less)
New Holland, PA 17557 89%2,247$82,491$286,500$194 cheaper homes ($96K less)
Portsmouth, VA 23703 89%2,340$78,707$295,900$200 cheaper homes ($86K less)

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.