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 Clarkston, WA 99403

Clarkston: median income $71,482, home value $325,300, $216/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 96%1,005$70,037$314,700$217 Very close on everything we compare
Plymouth, WI 53073 95%1,423$76,442$258,900$194 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Roseburg, OR 97471 95%384$71,670$359,200$259 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Ludington, MI 49431 93%1,491$66,336$237,700$203 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085 93%1,431$73,703$241,900$193 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller
Canon City, CO 81212 93%815$64,235$329,000$226 larger · 6 min longer commute
Lewiston, ID 83501 92%10$73,629$340,600$224 larger · younger residents
Spirit Lake, IA 51360 91%1,090$75,882$271,700$253 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 91%1,430$70,212$297,300$257 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents
Cortez, CO 81321 91%761$59,506$289,000$217 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Sheridan, WY 82801 91%500$73,213$386,500$274 pricier homes ($61K more)
Lenoir City, TN 37771 90%1,841$66,938$279,600$214 cheaper homes ($46K less) · 6 min longer commute
Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 90%1,400$82,783$245,900$201 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 5 min longer commute
Grand Rapids, MN 55744 90%1,111$70,644$241,200$176 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Roanoke, VA 24019 89%1,990$77,870$260,800$161 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Delavan, WI 53115 89%1,417$72,304$251,900$234 cheaper homes ($73K less) · 7 min longer commute
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 89%1,238$75,809$283,500$188 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Alexandria, MN 56308 89%1,035$78,177$341,900$194 newer homes
La Grange, TX 78945 89%1,572$75,446$340,300$168 smaller
Pueblo, CO 81005 89%846$70,574$298,500$166 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Lander, WY 82520 89%480$76,959$337,700$236 smaller · younger residents
Ludlow, MA 01056 88%2,195$84,838$335,300$251 5 min longer commute
Bellefonte, PA 16823 88%1,980$76,245$272,800$188 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 6 min longer commute
Oakland, MD 21550 88%1,950$64,921$233,300$196 cheaper homes ($92K less) · smaller
Decorah, IA 52101 88%1,250$73,484$273,200$172 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller

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.