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 Moscow, ID 83843

Moscow: median income $59,444, home value $380,600, $257/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Laramie, WY 82070 91%664$69,095$338,500$216 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Chico, CA 95926 91%541$61,920$473,600$286 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger
Laramie, WY 82072 90%678$53,863$324,100$200 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Athens, GA 30606 88%1,956$63,328$362,500$201 larger
Fayetteville, AR 72703 88%1,384$60,568$391,000$240 more walkable
Chico, CA 95928 88%541$64,949$503,100$292 pricier homes ($123K more)
Logan, UT 84321 87%429$69,148$400,500$215 larger · younger residents
Lawrence, KS 66047 85%1,219$65,392$342,300$173 cheaper homes ($38K less) · 5 min longer commute
Athens, GA 30605 84%1,960$50,062$314,200$203 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Knoxville, TN 37909 84%1,848$66,984$312,500$223 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller · older residents
Iowa City, IA 52240 84%1,305$52,960$242,300$181 cheaper homes ($138K less)
Brookings, SD 57006 84%989$66,337$273,900$155 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Hershey, PA 17033 83%2,047$72,945$384,100$198 smaller · older residents
Baton Rouge, LA 70806 83%1,779$55,642$325,100$172 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Fayetteville, AR 72701 83%1,387$55,506$355,300$218 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · younger residents
Logan, UT 84341 83%428$69,310$465,700$203 pricier homes ($85K more) · newer homes
Storrs Mansfield, CT 06268 82%2,209$55,219$348,600$220 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · younger residents
Boone, NC 28607 82%1,948$46,639$378,600$314 younger residents
Bowling Green, OH 43402 82%1,683$52,426$243,100$166 cheaper homes ($138K less)
Ames, IA 50010 82%1,195$65,398$253,500$190 cheaper homes ($127K less)
Davenport, IA 52807 82%1,352$72,579$348,200$180 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · older residents
Blacksburg, VA 24060 81%1,967$67,675$447,600$237 pricier homes ($67K more) · larger · more walkable
Johnson City, TN 37604 81%1,911$52,345$259,600$196 cheaper homes ($121K less) · older residents
Whitewater, WI 53190 81%1,403$66,069$265,100$222 cheaper homes ($116K less) · younger residents
Lawrence, KS 66046 81%1,221$65,478$233,700$199 cheaper homes ($147K less) · 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.