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 Cross Plains, TX 76443

Cross Plains: median income $49,915, home value $104,700, $133/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Apache, OK 73006 95%196$51,563$91,900$111 Very close on everything we compare
Murfreesboro, AR 71958 93%344$48,393$121,400$104 Very close on everything we compare
Renick, WV 24966 92%1,136$52,396$115,300$168 smaller
Meadville, MS 39653 92%492$53,689$97,800$121 larger
Livermore, KY 42352 92%777$53,750$143,000$153 pricier homes ($38K more)
Pacolet, SC 29372 91%1,020$46,739$104,400$139 larger
Maben, MS 39750 91%596$49,402$105,000— larger
Walhalla, ND 58282 91%1,158$52,083$107,300$121 smaller
Fort Cobb, OK 73038 91%210$57,500$127,100$104 Very close on everything we compare
Grampian, PA 16838 90%1,291$57,917$118,400— Very close on everything we compare
Atwood, TN 38220 90%659$46,791$103,900$136 Very close on everything we compare
Vaiden, MS 39176 90%554$47,195$108,600— less walkable
Shelburn, IN 47879 90%820$54,750$93,500$102 Very close on everything we compare
Ironton, MO 63650 90%616$50,183$123,100$124 larger
Bloomfield, MO 63825 90%620$52,414$96,600$109 larger
Tyronza, AR 72386 90%557$46,723$86,100$110 smaller
Harrisville, WV 26362 89%1,125$53,125$118,700$171 larger
Faison, NC 28341 89%1,227$57,431$119,900$167 Very close on everything we compare
Bethune, SC 29009 89%1,097$57,857$97,800$137 less walkable
Camden, AL 36726 89%696$46,030$130,300$116 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Sardis, TN 38371 89%664$45,714$130,000$154 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller
Whittemore, MI 48770 89%1,177$49,957$105,500$133 Very close on everything we compare
Ridgeway, MO 64481 89%640$55,341$120,200— smaller
Marshall, AR 72650 89%457$46,295$93,800$110 larger
Ringling, OK 73456 89%167$50,813$113,200$108 Very close on everything we compare

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.