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 Windthorst, TX 76389

Windthorst: median income $98,750, home value $229,200, $122/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Braceville, IL 60407 93%768$89,792$191,000$126 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Bainbridge, IN 46105 92%772$87,736$248,500$142 Very close on everything we compare
Jeddo, MI 48032 92%1,079$96,875$263,900$138 pricier homes ($35K more) · older residents
Bloomsdale, MO 63627 92%551$88,071$266,700$160 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Thornton, WV 26440 91%1,101$92,824$216,800— smaller
Davis, IL 61019 91%784$105,150$232,100$114 larger
Buskirk, NY 12028 90%1,495$96,891$247,700— younger residents
Cable, OH 43009 90%934$102,841$258,300$156 pricier homes ($29K more)
Belmont, OH 43718 90%1,060$92,576$228,000$146 larger · older residents
Butlerville, IN 47223 90%813$90,505$204,400$92 Very close on everything we compare
Vallonia, IN 47281 90%778$96,250$182,600$104 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Liberty, IL 62347 90%596$93,810$225,900$103 Very close on everything we compare
Hastings, NY 13076 89%1,376$95,889$176,400$148 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Dansville, MI 48819 89%986$110,833$254,500$156 pricier homes ($25K more) · older homes
Benton, KS 67017 89%301$88,750$259,400$150 pricier homes ($30K more)
Red House, WV 25168 88%983$101,660$207,200$154 more apartments and townhomes
Alexandria, AL 36250 88%721$83,406$211,600$140 larger
Saint Louisville, OH 43071 88%997$78,824$222,900$128 Very close on everything we compare
Laura, OH 45337 88%892$108,162$228,700$155 older homes
Rolling Prairie, IN 46371 88%857$99,830$256,000$161 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · older residents
San Pierre, IN 46374 88%824$91,250$226,900$132 Very close on everything we compare
Gaines, MI 48436 88%1,016$94,487$276,000$131 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Shellsburg, IA 52332 88%688$92,708$198,000$155 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Moravia, IA 52571 88%590$81,953$197,800$139 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Lone Tree, IA 52755 88%668$102,434$242,700$127 older homes

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.