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 Cotulla, TX 78014

Cotulla: median income $66,250, home value $100,000, $91/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hugoton, KS 67951 91%615$63,527$131,500$103 pricier homes ($32K more)
Flatwoods, KY 41139 88%1,176$59,034$112,700$110 larger
Baraga, MI 49908 88%1,393$63,281$130,300$126 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller
Beardstown, IL 62618 88%943$65,208$89,100— older homes
Hamlin, WV 25523 87%1,197$66,563$86,600$95 smaller · older residents
Denison, IA 51442 87%963$66,767$159,400$95 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Salem, IL 62881 87%919$71,270$115,200$102 larger · older residents
Sayre, OK 73662 87%475$54,775$99,900$59 Very close on everything we compare
New Madrid, MO 63869 86%798$57,959$132,100$108 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Mahnomen, MN 56557 85%1,318$57,731$143,800$82 pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller
Sparta, IL 62286 85%866$61,220$117,800$94 older residents · older homes
Albion, IL 62806 85%940$66,776$120,800— Very close on everything we compare
Harrisburg, AR 72432 85%701$55,827$116,100$124 6 min longer commute
Ocilla, GA 31774 84%979$50,833$99,500$84 5 min longer commute
Byesville, OH 43723 84%1,282$51,474$110,800$116 Very close on everything we compare
Ina, IL 62846 84%897$65,500$103,300$142 smaller
Huntsville, MO 65259 84%850$60,865$141,600$92 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Star City, AR 71667 84%578$59,375$118,400$116 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Pocola, OK 74902 84%547$50,545$151,100$97 pricier homes ($51K more)
Olney, IL 62450 83%956$62,096$116,500$97 larger
Du Quoin, IL 62832 83%877$59,652$100,300$97 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
De Witt, AR 72042 83%616$55,679$127,500$67 pricier homes ($28K more) · older residents
Marienville, PA 16239 82%1,445$52,121$107,400$100 Very close on everything we compare
Guin, AL 35563 82%770$52,576$116,900$91 7 min longer commute
South Fulton, TN 38257 82%819$58,849$103,100$127 older residents

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.