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 Santa Anna, TX 76878

Santa Anna: median income $46,111, home value $78,300, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Griggsville, IL 62340 93%732$43,333$99,500— Very close on everything we compare
Lumpkin, GA 31815 92%851$45,417$94,900$45 larger
Arlington, GA 39813 92%859$47,634$112,100— pricier homes ($34K more)
Mc Crory, AR 72101 92%528$50,921$105,100— pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Marvell, AR 72366 92%522$44,861$71,500$50 Very close on everything we compare
Caraway, AR 72419 91%586$41,017$93,300$95 Very close on everything we compare
Boswell, OK 74727 91%257$43,047$98,400$126 Very close on everything we compare
Appleton City, MO 64724 90%538$49,338$115,600$86 pricier homes ($37K more)
Lepanto, AR 72354 90%582$48,472$73,300$79 larger
Linden, AL 36748 89%676$42,826$93,700$64 larger · older residents
Black Rock, AR 72415 89%559$53,750$93,300$67 Very close on everything we compare
Blue Mountain, MS 38610 88%630$51,675$92,900$66 larger
Uniontown, KY 42461 88%769$47,746$104,000$111 pricier homes ($26K more)
Shawneetown, IL 62984 88%755$50,288$87,800$78 6 min shorter commute
Bismarck, MO 63624 88%647$41,984$90,400$68 larger · 5 min longer commute
Saint Paul, VA 24283 87%1,032$40,402$114,200$72 pricier homes ($36K more)
Bethel, NC 27812 87%1,289$53,268$112,500$139 pricier homes ($34K more)
Sharon, TN 38255 87%676$45,990$110,400$72 pricier homes ($32K more)
Shellman, GA 39886 87%864$35,395$99,500$119 Very close on everything we compare
Rosiclare, IL 62982 87%738$43,750$61,300$40 smaller · older homes
Tulsa, OK 74130 87%367$46,691$89,800$91 Very close on everything we compare
Moira, NY 12957 86%1,610$54,572$87,600$77 younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Kennedy, NY 14747 86%1,324$56,667$93,600$151 more homeowners
Oakwood, VA 24631 86%1,056$43,980$66,800$77 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Cowen, WV 26206 86%1,156$44,042$78,400$76 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.