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 Sterling City, TX 76951

Sterling City: median income $64,954, home value $147,000, $145/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wilson, AR 72395 93%680$78,507$149,100$139 Very close on everything we compare
Cyril, OK 73029 93%266$64,423$126,200$144 older homes
Roff, OK 74865 92%308$65,000$132,900$117 Very close on everything we compare
Panama, NY 14767 91%1,377$67,607$143,500$156 Very close on everything we compare
Ravenwood, MO 64479 91%686$61,184$150,700— Very close on everything we compare
Steens, MS 39766 90%746$65,707$162,700— larger
Saint Paul, IN 47272 90%1,009$75,117$135,900$136 older homes
Paris, MI 49338 90%1,177$69,375$161,900$148 Very close on everything we compare
Pellston, MI 49769 90%1,283$67,558$160,000$230 Very close on everything we compare
Lodge Grass, MT 59050 90%992$62,500$112,500— cheaper homes ($35K less)
Belle Rive, IL 62810 90%820$57,969$117,700— cheaper homes ($29K less)
Crocker, MO 65452 90%650$60,350$130,500$130 larger
Lake City, AR 72437 90%665$60,714$160,300$133 larger
Monette, AR 72447 90%672$59,444$115,100$159 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Jemez Pueblo, NM 87024 90%420$60,727$168,400— larger
Piffard, NY 14533 89%1,472$68,170$184,900$138 pricier homes ($38K more)
Otterbein, IN 47970 89%977$74,457$185,300$173 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Sublette, KS 67877 89%393$66,492$187,000$141 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Colbert, OK 74733 89%297$65,875$162,100$123 larger
Pantego, NC 27860 88%1,417$62,083$145,300— Very close on everything we compare
Alma Center, WI 54611 88%1,027$71,667$164,600$137 older residents
Jasper, MO 64755 88%538$77,643$158,200$127 larger
Emerson, AR 71740 88%463$65,455$168,300$149 more apartments and townhomes
Wayne, OK 73095 88%300$77,232$149,500$162 older residents
Avon, SD 57315 87%791$73,750$169,600$157 older homes

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.