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 Lone Star, TX 75668

Lone Star: median income $41,495, home value $81,700, $114/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wisner, LA 71378 90%188$36,950$110,700— pricier homes ($29K more)
Tuckerman, AR 72473 90%278$47,266$98,700$106 Very close on everything we compare
Konawa, OK 74849 89%183$41,053$91,100$96 Very close on everything we compare
Bruce, MS 38915 87%318$44,375$99,300$89 larger · younger residents
Griggsville, IL 62340 87%518$43,333$99,500— younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Cherokee, AL 35616 86%406$48,720$100,500$106 larger · more homeowners
Thayer, MO 65791 86%307$42,470$100,500$104 larger
Sturgis, KY 42459 85%495$51,563$96,600$105 larger
Uniontown, KY 42461 85%508$47,746$104,000$111 smaller
Elkville, IL 62932 85%462$46,000$82,400$109 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Pittsboro, MS 38951 84%317$40,568$60,100$82 smaller
Shellman, GA 39886 84%595$35,395$99,500$119 smaller · younger residents
Meredosia, IL 62665 84%530$46,528$65,800— smaller · more homeowners
Clarence, MO 63437 84%490$36,786$87,200$120 more homeowners
Lepanto, AR 72354 84%311$48,472$73,300$79 younger residents
Logan, WV 25601 83%792$47,333$94,900$82 larger
Joanna, SC 29351 83%748$49,414$85,000$103 younger residents · older homes
Shelbiana, KY 41562 83%757$40,104$96,700— more apartments and townhomes
Springhill, LA 71075 83%72$40,246$100,800$81 larger · more walkable
Stamps, AR 71860 83%76$36,758$70,100— more homeowners
Salem, AR 72576 83%288$39,812$110,600$114 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Wetumka, OK 74883 83%183$41,696$92,000$157 younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Jonesville, VA 24263 82%705$39,364$114,700$105 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Atkins, VA 24311 82%801$48,516$93,100$117 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Mayodan, NC 27027 82%871$45,469$118,500$137 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · 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.