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.

Reset

Towns most like Stephenville, TX 76401

Stephenville: median income $61,210, home value $270,000, $200/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Warrensburg, MO 64093 95%518$61,094$236,300$155 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Menomonie, WI 54751 93%937$72,028$253,000$168 Very close on everything we compare
Carrollton, GA 30117 92%768$61,842$267,700$173 Very close on everything we compare
Cookeville, TN 38501 92%775$52,145$284,600$199 Very close on everything we compare
Bossier City, LA 71111 91%265$65,292$276,600$157 older residents
Fayetteville, NC 28311 90%1,127$62,170$216,900$151 cheaper homes ($53K less) · 6 min longer commute
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 90%626$62,301$234,000$154 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · older residents
Warsaw, IN 46582 90%926$66,738$255,300$165 smaller · older residents
Durant, OK 74701 90%163$58,036$206,600$155 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Alamosa, CO 81101 90%565$54,844$240,400$183 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Columbus, GA 31909 89%776$69,166$221,300$149 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Rolla, MO 65401 89%538$56,081$222,800$138 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Twentynine Palms, CA 92277 89%1,039$60,901$247,700$194 more renters
Radford, VA 24141 88%1,057$62,969$236,400$163 cheaper homes ($34K less) · older homes
Jacksonville, NC 28546 88%1,212$63,561$226,100$166 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Bloomington, IN 47403 88%808$70,582$239,700$185 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents
Springdale, AR 72764 88%363$65,898$249,800$205 larger
Cedar City, UT 84721 88%920$67,299$366,600$223 pricier homes ($97K more) · more homeowners
Salisbury, MD 21804 87%1,344$73,156$243,700$164 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Valdosta, GA 31602 87%881$56,939$217,300$132 cheaper homes ($53K less) · more renters
Knoxville, TN 37920 87%855$66,362$267,600$228 older homes
Richmond, KY 40475 87%875$63,050$244,300$178 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Saint Cloud, MN 56301 87%945$73,142$288,600$149 Very close on everything we compare
Bemidji, MN 56601 87%1,076$72,262$260,900$170 older residents
Alexandria, LA 71303 87%342$67,156$244,200$143 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 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.