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 Axtell, TX 76624

Axtell: median income $79,625, home value $188,300, $153/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lexington, GA 30648 94%821$73,464$169,700$155 Very close on everything we compare
Harpersville, AL 35078 93%625$75,056$216,100$138 pricier homes ($28K more)
Braxton, MS 39044 93%413$74,417$163,500$131 Very close on everything we compare
Mc David, FL 32568 92%566$79,279$242,300$156 pricier homes ($54K more)
Wanette, OK 74878 92%231$78,085$218,100$214 pricier homes ($30K more)
Mc Kenney, VA 23872 91%1,156$75,913$215,200$213 pricier homes ($27K more)
Willard, NC 28478 91%1,115$73,388$178,900$150 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Woodland, AL 36280 91%685$72,813$201,400$145 larger
Indian Mound, TN 37079 91%628$86,804$246,200$193 pricier homes ($58K more)
Foster, KY 41043 91%873$87,695$211,800$160 smaller
Pekin, IN 47165 91%779$79,744$171,100$147 larger
Wheeler, WI 54772 91%966$88,750$182,100$191 smaller
Bradford, ME 04410 90%1,767$82,955$176,200$163 smaller · older residents
Cottageville, WV 25239 90%988$80,446$159,100— cheaper homes ($29K less)
Fairview, WV 26570 89%1,086$71,048$155,800$158 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older homes
Gates, NC 27937 89%1,202$70,086$160,000$195 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Carlton, GA 30627 89%827$75,000$207,300$179 younger residents
Butler, KY 41006 89%866$76,921$197,300$154 larger
Hudson, IN 46747 89%948$75,662$161,400$176 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Brighton, MO 65617 89%451$76,488$208,700$141 smaller
Maurepas, LA 70449 89%384$78,405$239,100$200 pricier homes ($51K more)
Anacoco, LA 71403 89%215$67,929$158,800$130 cheaper homes ($30K less)
West Sunbury, PA 16061 88%1,147$74,464$197,400— 5 min shorter commute
Ruffin, NC 27326 88%1,049$79,375$169,800$156 6 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Fruithurst, AL 36262 88%687$68,611$155,600— cheaper homes ($33K less)

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.