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 Marlin, TX 76661

Marlin: median income $41,056, home value $66,700, $78/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wewoka, OK 74884 92%266$46,658$88,600$97 Very close on everything we compare
Ferriday, LA 71334 90%316$34,804$81,300$105 Very close on everything we compare
Ecorse, MI 48229 89%1,070$40,264$65,400$90 older homes
Walnut Ridge, AR 72476 89%473$42,181$96,500$97 pricier homes ($30K more)
Oakdale, LA 71463 88%252$43,594$100,700$105 pricier homes ($34K more)
Piggott, AR 72454 88%520$46,509$107,600$80 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Denmark, SC 29042 87%929$41,047$88,200$86 smaller
Birmingham, AL 35224 87%600$42,639$80,000$76 smaller · older homes
Greenville, MS 38703 87%372$44,291$85,700$64 5 min shorter commute
Evarts, KY 40828 87%869$41,354$62,200$86 smaller · less walkable
Fordyce, AR 71742 87%313$38,843$98,200$67 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · older residents
Hope, AR 71801 87%252$45,345$99,400$70 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger
Anadarko, OK 73005 87%272$46,176$95,300$102 pricier homes ($29K more)
Henryetta, OK 74437 87%292$46,984$94,100$110 pricier homes ($27K more)
Fort Defiance, AZ 86504 87%765$46,573$45,000— Very close on everything we compare
Hamlet, NC 28345 86%1,024$40,957$97,600$114 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger
Newton, MS 39345 86%458$40,105$89,200$90 Very close on everything we compare
Fulton, KY 42041 86%585$36,045$105,900$87 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Wilburton, OK 74578 86%265$41,024$100,800$89 pricier homes ($34K more)
Heavener, OK 74937 86%277$41,367$104,300$94 pricier homes ($38K more)
Crownpoint, NM 87313 86%710$43,041$70,600— smaller · newer homes
Americus, GA 31719 85%742$42,905$81,600$102 newer homes
Mobile, AL 36612 85%521$38,056$90,900$101 smaller
Gary, IN 46404 85%885$42,256$95,200$92 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · older homes
Marion, IN 46953 85%894$46,288$89,200$72 larger

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.