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 Kotzebue, AK 99752

Kotzebue: median income $110,357, home value $288,400, $196/sq ft, 6-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Barrow, AK 99723 94%332$115,313$311,400$213 larger
Nome, AK 99762 91%184$113,558$353,800— pricier homes ($65K more)
Dillingham, AK 99576 86%558$99,125$288,400$180 Very close on everything we compare
Bethel, AK 99559 84%423$113,333$342,400$291 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Valdez, AK 99686 70%619$99,349$312,200$155 older residents · more homeowners
Cordova, AK 99574 69%674$85,132$418,400— lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($130K more) · older residents
Kodiak, AK 99615 69%706$88,456$424,000$273 pricier homes ($136K more) · larger · more homeowners
White Oak, TX 75693 64%3,571$102,146$222,400$164 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · 13 min longer commute
Stanley, ND 58784 63%2,434$116,616$258,600$118 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 11 min longer commute · more homeowners
Afton, WY 83110 63%2,529$86,731$381,100$250 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Heyburn, ID 83336 62%2,465$71,191$298,800$219 lower income ($39K less) · larger · older residents
Arcadia, WI 54612 60%2,962$77,647$196,400$156 lower income ($33K less) · cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger
Eagle Lake, MN 56024 60%2,904$95,357$285,600$162 12 min longer commute · more homeowners
Morris, MN 56267 60%2,765$74,442$236,800$133 lower income ($36K less) · cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Wanchese, NC 27981 59%3,886$88,750$311,800$185 smaller · older residents · 12 min longer commute
Little Chute, WI 54140 59%3,046$82,472$227,000$168 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger
Richfield, UT 84701 58%2,738$73,943$336,800$146 lower income ($36K less) · pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Lincoln, NE 68524 57%3,017$81,045$234,600$168 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Heppner, OR 97836 57%2,152$88,591$222,600$182 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · older residents
Sergeant Bluff, IA 51054 56%2,938$119,716$301,900$155 larger · older residents · 8 min longer commute
Orange City, IA 51041 55%2,910$83,643$277,000$141 lower income ($27K less) · larger · more homeowners
Farley, IA 52046 55%3,081$96,151$273,600$137 16 min longer commute · more homeowners
Holtville, CA 92250 55%3,023$72,143$324,400$265 lower income ($38K less) · pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Petersburg, AK 99833 55%1,167$75,125$315,100$241 lower income ($35K less) · pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents
East Earl, PA 17519 54%3,617$96,250$330,400$196 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · older residents

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.

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