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 College Place, WA 99324

College Place: median income $62,839, home value $368,500, $284/sq ft, 13-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
La Grande, OR 97850 87%52$63,421$298,100$225 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Absecon, NJ 08201 83%2,246$71,321$287,000$226 cheaper homes ($82K less) · 8 min longer commute
Boise, ID 83705 83%201$64,731$415,900$312 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · more walkable
Albuquerque, NM 87104 81%973$75,436$362,500$273 older residents · 5 min longer commute
White River Junction, VT 05001 79%2,229$78,092$296,900$271 cheaper homes ($72K less) · older residents
Harrisonburg, VA 22802 79%2,067$66,423$280,700$196 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger
Chesapeake, VA 23325 79%2,247$69,909$272,000$235 cheaper homes ($97K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Beaufort, SC 29902 79%2,201$69,752$349,100$266 larger · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Bloomington, IN 47404 79%1,674$61,389$257,500$191 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Boise, ID 83704 79%196$73,390$388,000$281 larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Crescent City, CA 95531 79%410$67,458$351,400$247 larger · older residents · 7 min longer commute
The Dalles, OR 97058 79%137$62,181$370,100$252 larger · older residents · older homes
Grand Rapids, MI 49544 78%1,612$74,390$264,000$218 cheaper homes ($105K less) · 6 min longer commute
Duluth, MN 55811 78%1,243$79,804$321,000$228 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Missoula, MT 59802 78%218$67,736$461,700$351 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · more renters
Casper, WY 82609 78%637$71,010$293,900$169 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger
Pendleton, OR 97801 78%32$71,639$293,000$197 cheaper homes ($76K less) · larger · older residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84104 77%489$61,425$359,600$309 larger · 5 min longer commute · older homes
Cedar City, UT 84720 77%640$67,670$420,000$209 pricier homes ($52K more) · larger · less walkable
Redding, CA 96002 77%428$73,222$367,200$254 larger · older residents
Littleton, NH 03561 76%2,242$56,746$282,900$213 cheaper homes ($86K less) · smaller · more renters
Westbrook, ME 04092 76%2,323$85,038$383,300$331 larger · 6 min longer commute
Wilmington, NC 28405 76%2,261$70,274$368,500$257 larger · 8 min longer commute · newer homes
Savannah, GA 31405 76%2,196$65,710$338,200$217 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Waukesha, WI 53186 76%1,493$74,588$301,100$224 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · 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.