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 Elgin, OK 73538

Elgin: median income $91,324, home value $288,700, $167/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Austin, AR 72007 97%365$86,302$234,100$165 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Goddard, KS 67052 94%205$103,148$288,500$159 Very close on everything we compare
Hahira, GA 31632 93%910$83,946$265,600$172 larger
Sterrett, AL 35147 93%687$91,739$317,300$192 pricier homes ($29K more)
Clever, MO 65631 93%319$86,875$247,700$187 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Addis, LA 70710 93%516$108,041$247,400$159 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Flint, TX 75762 92%248$90,057$299,500$178 larger
Medina, TN 38355 91%548$108,982$282,200$174 Very close on everything we compare
Henryville, IN 47126 91%746$106,875$276,100$175 smaller
Lyman, SC 29365 90%921$76,966$261,800$179 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Waverly Hall, GA 31831 90%798$98,214$300,800$174 smaller
Deatsville, AL 36022 90%706$89,459$248,900$162 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Walton, KY 41094 90%812$96,515$293,700$185 larger
South Lebanon, OH 45065 90%843$104,795$312,300$184 Very close on everything we compare
Charlestown, IN 47111 90%751$95,376$264,100$180 larger · older homes
Montrose, MN 55363 90%748$101,989$296,800$171 5 min longer commute
Belle Plaine, MN 56011 90%723$102,522$345,300$175 pricier homes ($57K more) · older homes
Farmington, AR 72730 90%250$91,731$310,100$204 larger
Bullard, TX 75757 90%255$91,165$275,500$197 larger
Tuscola, TX 79562 90%193$109,572$329,800$207 pricier homes ($41K more)
Mc Leansville, NC 27301 89%1,057$83,824$264,100$156 larger · older residents
Midland, NC 28107 89%1,011$105,122$385,500$191 pricier homes ($97K more)
Troutman, NC 28166 89%990$93,511$348,600$191 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger
Vass, NC 28394 89%1,083$79,643$300,800$185 older homes
Graniteville, SC 29829 89%951$84,228$246,900$154 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger

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.