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 Mobile, AL 36611

Mobile: median income $46,559, home value $117,500, $88/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Indianola, MS 38751 92%239$44,699$116,100$91 larger
Canton, OH 44707 92%786$44,943$109,100$114 Very close on everything we compare
Lubbock, TX 79412 91%828$48,878$130,700$90 larger
Slater, MO 65349 90%648$45,982$98,400$82 smaller
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495 89%946$49,798$139,100$132 Very close on everything we compare
East Prairie, MO 63845 89%422$51,207$110,200$91 older residents
Anadarko, OK 73005 89%660$46,176$95,300$102 Very close on everything we compare
Bartlesville, OK 74003 89%614$47,168$113,500$103 larger
Beaumont, TX 77701 89%362$49,181$84,000$91 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Rockford, IL 61101 88%798$46,163$90,600$92 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · older residents
Waco, TX 76711 88%539$53,185$153,000$125 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Plainview, TX 79072 88%829$47,255$114,000$96 larger
Fulton, KY 42041 87%402$36,045$105,900$87 Very close on everything we compare
Gary, IN 46406 87%748$35,839$91,700$97 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Gary, IN 46408 87%745$47,453$102,600$86 larger
Walnut Ridge, AR 72476 87%398$42,181$96,500$97 older residents · newer homes
Laurel, MS 39440 86%90$46,947$125,400$111 larger
Gary, IN 46404 86%749$42,256$95,200$92 larger · older residents
Piggott, AR 72454 86%407$46,509$107,600$80 older residents · more homeowners
Trumann, AR 72472 86%363$40,529$113,500$97 older residents · newer homes
Fort Smith, AR 72904 86%486$41,909$111,500$108 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Okmulgee, OK 74447 86%566$48,432$113,600$109 larger · older residents
Falfurrias, TX 78355 86%655$48,828$82,400$75 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents
Brownfield, TX 79316 86%848$43,063$103,900$89 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Las Animas, CO 81054 86%987$48,398$134,100$109 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.