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 Mcallen, TX 78503

Mcallen: median income $53,322, home value $150,900, $134/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Morehead, KY 40351 93%1,197$51,835$167,300$129 Very close on everything we compare
Searcy, AR 72143 93%736$58,344$181,300$140 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Jacksonville, AL 36265 92%914$55,294$175,900$147 pricier homes ($25K more)
Tahlequah, OK 74464 92%700$51,262$174,000$143 older homes
Lake Charles, LA 70607 90%412$60,351$181,100$133 pricier homes ($30K more)
Arkadelphia, AR 71923 90%630$56,089$170,600$108 smaller · older homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73135 90%640$63,478$175,700$138 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Robert, MO 65584 89%881$63,328$210,000$127 pricier homes ($59K more) · smaller
Dublin, GA 31021 88%1,018$55,697$182,700$128 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents · older homes
Southaven, MS 38671 88%781$61,843$189,000$150 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Loves Park, IL 61111 88%1,232$61,393$158,600$149 older homes
Durant, OK 74701 88%552$58,036$206,600$155 pricier homes ($56K more) · older homes
Tallahassee, FL 32305 87%896$48,045$156,300$144 older residents
Conway, AR 72032 87%706$64,695$209,800$148 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger
Batesville, AR 72501 87%770$52,829$147,900$116 older residents · older homes
Vidalia, GA 30474 86%1,041$55,295$154,400$117 older residents · older homes
Monroe, LA 71203 86%578$52,326$185,100$132 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · older homes
Leesville, LA 71446 86%460$55,925$166,200$137 older homes
Paragould, AR 72450 86%821$57,725$178,100$135 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · older residents
Clinton, NC 28328 85%1,330$52,942$163,000$153 older residents · older homes
La Grange, NC 28551 85%1,366$49,092$131,100$157 smaller
Sumter, SC 29150 85%1,194$50,965$169,700$133 larger · older residents · older homes
Gaffney, SC 29341 85%1,158$58,029$188,900$167 pricier homes ($38K more) · older residents
Horn Lake, MS 38637 85%778$53,311$171,400$145 7 min longer commute
Tupelo, MS 38801 85%796$62,946$197,100$141 pricier homes ($46K more) · 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.