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 Hempstead, TX 77445

Hempstead: median income $65,909, home value $270,400, $165/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mulberry, FL 33860 89%863$65,710$250,400$186 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Hartsville, TN 37074 89%718$71,914$329,600$214 pricier homes ($59K more)
Martinsburg, WV 25404 88%1,215$70,633$246,200$184 older residents
Indiantown, FL 34956 88%968$64,526$217,000$225 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Tickfaw, LA 70466 88%335$65,807$166,900$147 cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller
Labelle, FL 33935 87%919$57,009$217,700$187 cheaper homes ($53K less) · more homeowners
Immokalee, FL 34142 87%932$62,333$317,800$203 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger · more renters
Selma, NC 27576 86%1,099$66,831$207,600$209 cheaper homes ($63K less) · older residents
Kingsland, GA 31548 85%856$75,804$250,600$182 6 min shorter commute
Lyles, TN 37098 85%645$63,371$241,600$206 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Cameron, NC 28326 84%1,035$75,431$267,400$163 larger
Alto, GA 30510 84%788$52,019$207,800$182 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Tunnel Hill, GA 30755 84%721$74,167$195,100$187 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller
Starke, FL 32091 84%834$62,852$206,200$181 cheaper homes ($64K less) · older residents
Haines City, FL 33844 84%882$63,650$256,300$168 larger · older residents
New Haven, MI 48048 84%1,141$70,938$188,700$166 cheaper homes ($82K less) · more homeowners
Independence, LA 70443 84%333$57,464$163,900$157 cheaper homes ($107K less) · smaller
Conyers, GA 30012 83%750$66,153$268,100$135 larger · older residents
Gibsonton, FL 33534 83%842$80,484$314,000$171 pricier homes ($44K more) · newer homes
Laurel, DE 19956 82%1,304$65,603$259,500$192 older residents · 7 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Lillington, NC 27546 82%1,059$66,746$269,900$158 older residents · more single-family homes
Oakwood, GA 30566 82%767$66,456$287,300$186 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Amelia, OH 45102 82%913$76,763$230,600$185 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Ladson, SC 29456 81%959$78,361$270,100$183 larger · 5 min shorter commute · newer homes
Okeechobee, FL 34972 81%934$61,040$220,000$225 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute

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.