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 Pullman, WA 99163

Pullman: median income $48,231, home value $435,900, $228/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Laramie, WY 82072 88%686$53,863$324,100$200 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller
Morgantown, WV 26505 86%1,919$45,536$278,000$170 cheaper homes ($158K less)
Clemson, SC 29631 86%1,962$48,800$400,400$214 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Ames, IA 50014 85%1,199$60,731$336,800$211 cheaper homes ($99K less) · newer homes
Columbia, MO 65201 83%1,363$48,113$248,400$184 cheaper homes ($188K less)
Athens, GA 30605 82%1,968$50,062$314,200$203 cheaper homes ($122K less) · 6 min longer commute
Bloomington, IN 47408 81%1,624$45,644$346,900$188 cheaper homes ($89K less) · more walkable
Storrs Mansfield, CT 06268 80%2,218$55,219$348,600$220 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Moscow, ID 83843 78%9$59,444$380,600$257 cheaper homes ($55K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Boone, NC 28607 77%1,956$46,639$378,600$314 cheaper homes ($57K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Blacksburg, VA 24060 76%1,976$67,675$447,600$237 more walkable
Gainesville, FL 32607 75%2,200$45,987$321,900$180 cheaper homes ($114K less) · 8 min longer commute · more walkable
East Lansing, MI 48823 75%1,616$52,018$282,600$173 cheaper homes ($153K less) · more walkable
Iowa City, IA 52246 75%1,310$62,521$348,900$176 cheaper homes ($87K less) · smaller · more walkable
Gainesville, FL 32608 74%2,202$61,588$358,200$206 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · older residents
West Lafayette, IN 47906 74%1,564$53,103$323,200$186 cheaper homes ($113K less) · larger · more walkable
Chico, CA 95926 73%537$61,920$473,600$286 pricier homes ($38K more) · more single-family homes
Rexburg, ID 83440 72%331$58,159$419,300$203 larger · newer homes
Fayetteville, AR 72701 71%1,395$55,506$355,300$218 cheaper homes ($81K less) · more single-family homes
Provo, UT 84606 71%527$52,811$443,600$275 more renters · more walkable
Flagstaff, AZ 86001 71%848$64,626$589,100$399 pricier homes ($153K more) · more walkable · newer homes
Fayetteville, AR 72703 70%1,392$60,568$391,000$240 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older residents
Logan, UT 84341 70%433$69,310$465,700$203 pricier homes ($30K more) · newer homes
Orono, ME 04473 69%2,300$61,528$272,600$198 cheaper homes ($163K less) · smaller
Auburn, AL 36832 69%1,928$42,717$263,900$210 cheaper homes ($172K less) · more homeowners · newer homes

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.