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 Elk, WA 99009

Elk: median income $81,809, home value $427,200, $276/sq ft, 50-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lexington, TX 78947 84%1,619$84,649$319,600$231 cheaper homes ($108K less) · newer homes
Pinon Hills, CA 92372 83%938$66,471$459,400$217 pricier homes ($32K more)
Otisville, NY 10963 82%2,118$82,989$346,800$283 cheaper homes ($80K less) · more renters
Colton, OR 97017 82%314$83,355$610,300$323 pricier homes ($183K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Paradise, TX 76073 79%1,449$101,563$336,000$210 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger · newer homes
Tollhouse, CA 93667 79%769$75,272$366,300$267 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Calhan, CO 80808 78%899$85,500$411,100$235 12 min shorter commute
Anza, CA 92539 78%999$90,394$350,000$271 cheaper homes ($77K less) · 8 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Garden Valley, CA 95633 78%657$74,258$434,200$304 smaller · 10 min shorter commute
Aguanga, CA 92536 77%1,007$79,551$519,100$348 pricier homes ($92K more) · smaller · older residents
Wittmann, AZ 85361 76%1,014$77,361$412,400$247 larger · 7 min shorter commute · newer homes
Coulterville, CA 95311 76%726$56,029$316,000$251 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller
Ranburne, AL 36273 75%1,925$90,278$258,300$241 cheaper homes ($169K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Readyville, TN 37149 75%1,789$78,345$402,900$268 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Kingsbury, TX 78638 75%1,635$69,250$317,400$307 cheaper homes ($110K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Meansville, GA 30256 74%1,996$73,571$299,000$200 cheaper homes ($128K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Plantersville, TX 77363 74%1,668$75,278$318,200$197 cheaper homes ($109K less) · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Phelan, CA 92371 74%938$78,986$387,000$256 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · younger residents
Vernonia, OR 97064 74%316$67,317$383,600$298 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 11 min shorter commute
Parsonsfield, ME 04047 73%2,216$72,045$272,100$296 cheaper homes ($155K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Knotts Island, NC 27950 73%2,226$88,250$290,300$255 cheaper homes ($137K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Cumberland Furnace, TN 37051 73%1,718$69,545$342,500$241 cheaper homes ($85K less) · 11 min shorter commute · newer homes
Mount Perry, OH 43760 73%1,817$79,783$275,700$241 cheaper homes ($152K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Terrell, TX 75161 73%1,523$85,981$264,500$208 cheaper homes ($163K less) · larger · older residents
Grafton, NH 03240 72%2,173$81,563$267,300$223 cheaper homes ($160K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute

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.