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 Republic, WA 99166

Republic: median income $56,676, home value $286,000, $233/sq ft, 13-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Craig, AK 99921 89%769$64,250$302,900$257 smaller
Salmon, ID 83467 88%333$53,917$316,700$265 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Jefferson, NC 28640 87%2,051$53,155$282,900$264 larger · 7 min longer commute
Thompson Falls, MT 59873 86%171$60,000$305,900$277 older residents
North Clarendon, VT 05759 85%2,186$58,150$209,100$199 cheaper homes ($77K less) · smaller · older homes
Dove Creek, CO 81324 84%899$71,630$223,100— cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Penrose, NC 28766 83%2,047$57,708$307,000$252 smaller · 9 min longer commute
Colebrook, NH 03576 82%2,213$52,682$214,900$204 cheaper homes ($71K less) · 10 min longer commute
Plains, MT 59859 82%194$64,846$429,200$278 pricier homes ($143K more) · 6 min longer commute
Apalachicola, FL 32320 81%2,200$46,713$241,500$279 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Saint Germain, WI 54558 81%1,374$59,718$261,000$345 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Bayfield, WI 54814 80%1,294$63,682$250,000$268 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Philip, SD 57567 80%869$59,410$191,500— cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Libby, MT 59923 80%146$44,980$272,000$253 larger · older homes
Kamiah, ID 83536 80%210$53,707$241,800$139 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Canyonville, OR 97417 80%454$50,217$246,200$269 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 7 min longer commute
Gold Beach, OR 97444 80%513$64,920$402,700$296 pricier homes ($117K more) · larger · older residents
Milbridge, ME 04658 79%2,384$60,536$240,400$262 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Benzonia, MI 49616 79%1,560$57,982$221,600$259 cheaper homes ($64K less) · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
West Jefferson, NC 28694 78%2,051$58,486$273,200$266 larger · 8 min longer commute
Clayton, GA 30525 78%2,028$65,150$274,200$258 larger · 7 min longer commute
Cartwright, OK 74731 78%1,528$54,286$158,000$180 cheaper homes ($128K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Elsinore, UT 84724 78%764$49,438$238,200$249 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller · 8 min longer commute
Loyalton, CA 96118 78%627$54,167$243,800$229 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Winston, OR 97496 78%447$56,071$257,600$244 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · 9 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.