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 Wolfe City, TX 75496

Wolfe City: median income $64,808, home value $200,900, $131/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Thompsontown, PA 17094 99%1,152$66,375$196,100$123 Very close on everything we compare
Cornell, WI 54732 97%856$62,875$184,000$117 Very close on everything we compare
La Farge, WI 54639 96%766$61,375$209,700$130 Very close on everything we compare
Grove City, MN 56243 96%818$71,528$178,900$126 smaller
Sebeka, MN 56477 96%918$57,857$185,800$152 Very close on everything we compare
Bourbon, MO 65441 96%429$65,050$204,200$150 larger
Marion Center, PA 15759 95%1,068$57,132$168,600$119 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Centerville, PA 16404 95%1,060$65,972$156,200— cheaper homes ($45K less)
Hopewell, PA 16650 95%1,086$62,426$157,700$132 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Gillett, PA 16925 95%1,207$64,792$172,700$138 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Paint Lick, KY 40461 95%717$71,212$201,800$148 Very close on everything we compare
Nashville, MI 49073 95%872$67,604$178,500$129 larger
Wellman, IA 52356 95%606$57,321$227,800$135 pricier homes ($27K more)
Gilman, WI 54433 95%864$69,000$194,400$159 smaller
Melrose, WI 54642 95%792$73,452$210,600$152 Very close on everything we compare
Clearbrook, MN 56634 95%992$64,886$216,400$140 smaller
Beavertown, PA 17813 94%1,158$64,792$189,300$97 Very close on everything we compare
Calhoun, KY 42327 94%574$66,836$167,500$131 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Dixon, KY 42409 94%551$60,000$155,000$127 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Ovid, MI 48866 94%919$65,281$169,000$126 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Birnamwood, WI 54414 94%879$72,500$200,100$138 Very close on everything we compare
Bruce, WI 54819 94%873$56,650$162,500$138 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Belle, MO 65013 94%417$57,212$216,900$107 Very close on everything we compare
Wakefield, KS 67487 94%409$67,813$183,900$126 smaller
Prague, OK 74864 94%153$65,304$192,100$127 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.