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 Texarkana, TX 75503

Texarkana: median income $72,159, home value $229,800, $148/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Paducah, KY 42001 95%394$71,365$215,300$143 Very close on everything we compare
Jefferson City, MO 65109 95%368$74,694$221,600$147 larger
Kearney, NE 68847 95%571$73,818$238,400$143 Very close on everything we compare
Yankton, SD 57078 94%675$71,268$233,900$151 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Joseph, MO 64506 94%439$65,573$240,300$150 Very close on everything we compare
Florence, SC 29501 93%822$71,671$236,900$156 larger · 5 min longer commute
Wausau, WI 54401 93%828$71,586$196,700$165 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Pierre, SD 57501 93%824$81,791$245,100$152 smaller
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 93%369$66,654$219,800$135 Very close on everything we compare
Jefferson City, MO 65101 93%367$74,807$243,600$142 5 min longer commute
Kearney, NE 68845 93%575$76,978$282,000$147 pricier homes ($52K more)
Christiansburg, VA 24073 92%810$76,800$253,200$190 Very close on everything we compare
Findlay, OH 45840 92%776$68,083$213,000$165 larger
Mankato, MN 56003 92%743$82,538$270,400$162 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Alexandria, LA 71303 92%175$67,156$244,200$143 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Smith, AR 72908 92%130$72,732$197,000$132 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Enid, OK 73703 92%297$73,333$196,300$130 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Casper, WY 82609 92%925$71,010$293,900$169 pricier homes ($64K more)
Jackson, TN 38305 91%336$68,977$243,800$157 larger · 5 min longer commute
South Bend, IN 46637 91%713$71,462$207,100$154 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Rochester, MN 55904 91%734$77,016$253,600$186 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Peter, MN 56082 91%751$71,456$275,200$169 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller
Willmar, MN 56201 91%808$68,804$216,300$132 Very close on everything we compare
Marshall, MN 56258 91%764$72,731$219,600$119 smaller
Bemidji, MN 56601 91%975$72,262$260,900$170 pricier homes ($31K more) · 5 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.