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 Valley Mills, TX 76689

Valley Mills: median income $77,863, home value $217,400, $76/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Minford, OH 45653 93%963$82,125$176,100— cheaper homes ($41K less)
Algodones, NM 87001 92%571$68,547$215,800— Very close on everything we compare
Owensville, IN 47665 90%717$68,625$200,300$119 Very close on everything we compare
Ava, IL 62907 89%626$84,293$161,900$94 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller
Fultonville, NY 12072 88%1,483$81,063$190,200$109 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Collinsville, MS 39325 88%508$88,112$178,000— cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents
Oskaloosa, KS 66066 88%536$79,990$225,700$107 smaller · older homes
Rural Retreat, VA 24368 87%992$73,614$170,100$131 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Rome, PA 18837 86%1,363$71,131$188,100$101 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · older homes
Falkville, AL 35622 86%640$66,506$189,500$102 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Bourg, LA 70343 86%435$73,815$203,900$136 Very close on everything we compare
Shady Spring, WV 25918 85%1,024$79,323$181,600$135 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Siloam, NC 27047 85%1,019$71,146$214,500— smaller
Dixon, MO 65459 85%534$66,385$167,300$116 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Morrisville, MO 65710 85%463$77,865$231,000— smaller · more renters
S Coffeyville, OK 74072 85%383$67,708$164,500$93 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Mulga, AL 35118 84%621$64,375$164,800$76 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller · older homes
Brownstown, IN 47220 84%815$69,242$166,900$106 cheaper homes ($51K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Pilot Grove, MO 65276 84%561$78,958$186,300— cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · older residents
Mount Hermon, LA 70450 84%429$61,333$200,000— smaller
Loretto, PA 15940 83%1,214$88,274$238,900$61 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Centerville, PA 16404 83%1,198$65,972$156,200— cheaper homes ($61K less) · older homes
Stedman, NC 28391 83%1,108$72,955$210,900$149 Very close on everything we compare
Woodstock, AL 35188 83%612$73,438$209,300$132 smaller
Coker, AL 35452 83%582$70,962$187,300$139 cheaper homes ($30K 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.