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 Coulee Dam, WA 99116

Coulee Dam: median income $65,946, home value $238,900, $165/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Benton, MT 59442 92%385$67,917$254,000$190 Very close on everything we compare
Lovell, WY 82431 92%547$60,295$221,300$169 larger
Chinook, MT 59523 91%448$73,906$218,300— Very close on everything we compare
Milford, NE 68405 91%1,186$75,250$244,600$153 larger
Woodbine, IA 51579 90%1,212$72,500$204,400$121 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Choteau, MT 59422 90%312$67,500$256,500$184 larger · older residents
Wisner, NE 68791 90%1,149$69,018$165,300$137 cheaper homes ($74K less)
Sloan, IA 51055 89%1,172$72,143$218,300$156 older residents
Wray, CO 80758 89%986$58,929$234,000$181 larger · newer homes
Pine Level, NC 27568 88%2,237$66,071$230,800— more homeowners
New Sharon, IA 50207 88%1,358$76,053$156,300$191 cheaper homes ($83K less)
Raymond, MN 56282 88%1,142$69,896$201,400$110 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Fosston, MN 56542 88%1,073$59,706$186,300$128 cheaper homes ($53K less) · newer homes
Alcester, SD 57001 88%1,130$69,531$177,400$166 cheaper homes ($62K less) · older residents
Big Sandy, MT 59520 88%409$62,109$204,000$130 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Rossville, KS 66533 88%1,297$62,237$195,100$146 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Wakefield, NE 68784 88%1,142$62,216$144,900$145 cheaper homes ($94K less)
Ord, NE 68862 88%1,072$60,321$163,100— cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger
Herminie, PA 15637 87%1,994$70,461$220,600$159 7 min longer commute
Greenfield, IA 50849 87%1,284$64,821$148,600$143 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Martin, SD 57551 87%895$70,096$161,900— cheaper homes ($77K less)
Washburn, ND 58577 87%834$74,471$260,100$145 newer homes
Shelby, MT 59474 87%328$57,846$233,100$120 larger
Victoria, KS 67671 87%1,173$77,702$181,900$176 cheaper homes ($57K less) · newer homes
Ponca, NE 68770 87%1,140$71,607$199,400$143 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 6 min longer 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.