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 Cross City, FL 32628

Cross City: median income $44,567, home value $130,700, $175/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Moorefield, WV 26836 93%690$47,770$151,100$159 older residents
Santa Rosa, NM 88435 92%1,298$49,648$120,200— smaller
Collinsville, AL 35961 91%356$46,224$100,200$182 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 6 min longer commute
Gray, KY 40734 91%507$42,500$131,700$152 Very close on everything we compare
Gassville, AR 72635 90%708$49,709$172,100$148 pricier homes ($41K more)
Burkesville, KY 42717 89%511$42,978$145,100$163 older residents
Dexter, NM 88230 89%1,270$43,469$104,800$117 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Elliston, VA 24087 88%551$41,204$155,100$172 5 min longer commute
Cowpens, SC 29330 88%382$48,243$151,800$163 larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Wrens, GA 30833 88%252$44,139$130,500$157 more renters
Houston, MO 65483 88%732$46,663$126,200$143 more single-family homes
Bald Knob, AR 72010 88%624$48,305$120,100$120 Very close on everything we compare
Pangburn, AR 72121 88%640$44,221$175,900$205 pricier homes ($45K more)
Waldron, AR 72958 88%731$42,221$101,300$174 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 7 min longer commute
Queen City, TX 75572 88%690$45,625$134,200$132 smaller
Fort Payne, AL 35967 87%363$47,051$157,300$163 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Winona, MS 38967 87%467$39,663$141,100— 7 min longer commute
De Kalb, MS 39328 87%390$42,930$95,400— cheaper homes ($35K less) · 6 min longer commute
Science Hill, KY 42553 87%527$52,737$154,500$165 5 min longer commute
Antlers, OK 74523 87%794$47,702$130,100$128 6 min longer commute
Candor, NC 27229 86%434$51,436$128,800$210 7 min longer commute
Moultrie, GA 31788 86%104$47,325$132,300$152 larger
Hartford, MI 49057 86%884$51,345$118,400$134 6 min longer commute
Gurdon, AR 71743 86%654$48,253$132,200$151 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Hearne, TX 77859 86%803$52,639$160,000$122 pricier homes ($29K more)

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.