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 Emporia, KS 66801

Emporia: median income $56,794, home value $152,700, $117/sq ft, 13-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charleston, IL 61920 92%437$52,429$149,200$104 Very close on everything we compare
Portales, NM 88130 91%494$52,434$135,000$112 smaller
Fayetteville, NC 28303 90%979$58,223$189,500$142 pricier homes ($37K more)
Kirksville, MO 63501 90%228$60,729$168,200$114 Very close on everything we compare
Grand Island, NE 68801 90%207$63,617$203,500$129 pricier homes ($51K more)
Lawton, OK 73505 90%291$58,272$158,200$109 larger
Kingsville, TX 78363 90%766$60,574$163,300$126 6 min longer commute
Waterloo, IA 50701 89%345$61,475$183,800$128 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Wichita Falls, TX 76302 89%340$59,590$165,800$133 smaller
Gallup, NM 87301 89%721$58,772$168,500$149 7 min longer commute
Florence, AL 35630 88%534$46,304$174,800$132 Very close on everything we compare
Martin, TN 38237 88%427$51,670$200,900$138 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Lansing, MI 48911 88%676$56,631$146,600$133 7 min longer commute
Maryville, MO 64468 88%150$57,251$211,100$122 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
Russellville, AR 72801 88%275$47,830$163,700$129 Very close on everything we compare
Victoria, TX 77901 88%666$57,923$143,200$137 6 min longer commute
Clovis, NM 88101 88%479$56,587$172,300$138 larger · more single-family homes
Stevens Point, WI 54481 87%543$59,545$201,000$168 pricier homes ($48K more)
Guymon, OK 73942 87%313$61,522$184,500$142 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Abilene, TX 79601 87%457$53,631$190,200$178 pricier homes ($38K more)
Watertown, NY 13601 86%1,118$58,791$172,600$144 older homes
Laurel, MS 39440 86%611$46,947$125,400$111 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Murray, KY 42071 86%450$50,198$190,300$151 pricier homes ($38K more) · newer homes
Muncie, IN 47303 86%591$47,674$118,200$117 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 7 min longer commute
Terre Haute, IN 47802 86%477$57,395$170,200$136 older residents · 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.