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 Chewelah, WA 99109

Chewelah: median income $62,391, home value $327,400, $235/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Jefferson, NC 28694 93%2,004$58,486$273,200$266 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Saint Maries, ID 83861 93%88$65,508$307,800$237 younger residents
Orofino, ID 83544 92%143$69,458$292,700$198 cheaper homes ($35K less) · younger residents
Gold Hill, OR 97525 92%480$72,025$450,200$246 pricier homes ($123K more)
Fryeburg, ME 04037 91%2,224$54,414$278,200$260 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Jefferson, NC 28640 91%2,005$53,155$282,900$264 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Lakeside, AZ 85929 91%1,055$62,752$306,900$290 Very close on everything we compare
Waldoboro, ME 04572 90%2,294$69,107$274,900$192 cheaper homes ($53K less)
New Market, VA 22844 90%2,045$65,974$281,200$202 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more renters
Panacea, FL 32346 90%2,162$61,700$267,200$257 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Aitkin, MN 56431 90%1,131$67,828$295,400$213 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Whitehall, MT 59759 90%314$60,571$353,900$335 pricier homes ($27K more)
Hagerman, ID 83332 90%403$64,792$226,200$250 cheaper homes ($101K less) · smaller
Coquille, OR 97423 90%469$61,020$296,100$208 cheaper homes ($31K less) · younger residents
South Haven, MI 49090 89%1,572$68,920$295,000$293 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Wabasha, MN 55981 89%1,251$71,607$273,400$181 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Osakis, MN 56360 89%1,074$69,013$246,300$173 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Gravois Mills, MO 65037 89%1,425$66,360$284,100$256 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents
Salmon, ID 83467 89%284$53,917$316,700$265 7 min shorter commute
Newland, NC 28657 88%1,997$59,702$240,300$249 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger
Clayton, GA 30525 88%1,980$65,150$274,200$258 cheaper homes ($53K less) · newer homes
Huntsville, OH 43324 88%1,747$56,466$256,500$254 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller · younger residents
Hilbert, WI 54129 88%1,433$67,381$279,700$208 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Minocqua, WI 54548 88%1,321$69,569$336,400$288 Very close on everything we compare
Spooner, WI 54801 88%1,223$62,625$216,500$210 cheaper homes ($111K 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.