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 Royal City, WA 99357

Royal City: median income $57,034, home value $326,700, $252/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863 86%1,998$53,191$284,100$340 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Decatur, AR 72722 86%1,480$54,838$230,200$228 cheaper homes ($97K less) · older residents
Boardman, OR 97818 84%75$61,523$275,700$226 cheaper homes ($51K less) · more walkable
Kansas City, MO 64163 79%1,353$59,511$213,100$222 cheaper homes ($114K less) · smaller · newer homes
Wendell, ID 83355 79%373$65,764$283,300$227 cheaper homes ($43K less) · more single-family homes
Gordonville, PA 17529 78%2,201$80,050$362,100$232 pricier homes ($35K more)
Heber, CA 92249 78%1,005$72,028$335,600$243 larger
Keene, TX 76059 77%1,542$51,401$237,900$163 cheaper homes ($89K less) · more renters
Umatilla, OR 97882 77%71$69,223$244,800$232 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · older residents
Linwood, NC 27299 76%2,149$65,621$196,500$185 cheaper homes ($130K less) · more homeowners
Linn, MO 65051 76%1,516$53,289$191,200$268 cheaper homes ($136K less) · more single-family homes
Hogansburg, NY 13655 75%2,132$52,309$191,100— cheaper homes ($136K less)
Oakwood, GA 30566 75%2,045$66,456$287,300$186 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Box Elder, SD 57719 75%821$74,885$317,300$203 larger · newer homes
Kaiser, MO 65047 75%1,492$53,750$264,600$220 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller · older residents
Clifton, CO 81520 75%779$50,283$249,600$261 cheaper homes ($77K less) · larger · older residents
Surprise, AZ 85378 75%993$56,444$274,500$223 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · older residents
Hamilton City, CA 95951 75%511$70,294$330,100$285 more single-family homes · more walkable · older homes
Oroville, CA 95965 75%515$53,198$308,500$240 larger
Willows, CA 95988 75%527$66,339$297,200$241 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older residents
Siletz, OR 97380 75%257$60,132$277,200— cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · older residents
Warren, MA 01083 74%2,319$64,032$364,800$278 pricier homes ($38K more) · 12 min longer commute
Bowling Green, VA 22427 74%2,217$81,488$315,700$214 more single-family homes
East Flat Rock, NC 28726 74%2,071$54,152$198,400$237 cheaper homes ($128K less) · more walkable
Holtville, CA 92250 74%999$72,143$324,400$265 larger · older residents · more single-family 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.