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 Homer, AK 99603

Homer: median income $78,767, home value $373,500, $310/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Traverse City, MI 49685 93%2,827$84,590$358,500$261 larger
Swannanoa, NC 28778 90%3,413$73,408$303,300$256 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Fruita, CO 81521 90%2,313$88,458$422,900$294 pricier homes ($49K more)
Lander, WY 82520 90%2,120$76,959$337,700$236 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older homes
Powell, WY 82435 88%2,021$67,534$362,700$233 Very close on everything we compare
Bonners Ferry, ID 83805 88%1,573$70,083$418,900$292 pricier homes ($45K more)
Manteo, NC 27954 87%3,632$80,587$418,400$374 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller
Petoskey, MI 49770 87%2,823$79,590$355,200$275 larger
Columbia Falls, MT 59912 87%1,664$76,617$488,800$399 pricier homes ($115K more) · 5 min longer commute
Kanab, UT 84741 87%2,306$85,417$418,100$255 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · older residents
Grand Junction, CO 81503 86%2,330$75,053$352,100$274 Very close on everything we compare
Grand Junction, CO 81505 86%2,320$90,830$467,800$294 pricier homes ($94K more)
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 85%3,489$90,013$370,500$283 5 min longer commute
Fletcher, NC 28732 85%3,419$81,852$376,700$233 larger · 6 min longer commute
Helena, MT 59602 85%1,817$92,985$408,600$270 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Polson, MT 59860 85%1,696$62,047$441,500$309 pricier homes ($68K more) · older residents
Grand Haven, MI 49417 84%2,893$83,405$316,300$248 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger
Adel, IA 50003 84%2,690$103,114$395,400$256 7 min longer commute
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 84%2,374$70,037$314,700$217 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Cody, WY 82414 84%2,022$77,958$435,300$252 pricier homes ($62K more) · older residents
Pinedale, WY 82941 84%2,080$91,429$345,700$265 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Conway, NH 03818 83%3,358$77,134$324,800$241 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Gansevoort, NY 12831 83%3,314$100,024$343,100$264 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Tiger, GA 30576 83%3,420$81,417$324,900$245 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller · older residents
Piney Flats, TN 37686 83%3,371$84,264$352,200$211 8 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.