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 Harlingen, TX 78552

Harlingen: median income $69,811, home value $169,300, $163/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Enterprise, AL 36330 92%804$75,765$207,700$140 pricier homes ($38K more)
Southaven, MS 38671 91%762$61,843$189,000$150 Very close on everything we compare
Van Buren, AR 72956 91%672$62,988$184,100$141 older residents
Tucson, AZ 85756 91%891$72,490$233,500$177 pricier homes ($64K more)
Sumter, SC 29154 90%1,164$62,772$190,600$133 Very close on everything we compare
Florence, SC 29505 90%1,208$67,343$179,800$149 smaller · older residents
Millbrook, AL 36054 90%812$68,438$183,300$142 smaller
Berea, KY 40403 90%1,113$61,771$200,200$172 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Goshen, IN 46526 90%1,261$67,461$204,200$159 pricier homes ($35K more) · older homes
Searcy, AR 72143 90%720$58,344$181,300$140 Very close on everything we compare
Conway, AR 72032 89%691$64,695$209,800$148 pricier homes ($41K more)
Marion, AR 72364 89%767$74,462$212,300$145 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Winston-Salem, NC 27127 88%1,235$61,926$219,600$164 pricier homes ($50K more)
Fayetteville, NC 28306 88%1,271$67,544$232,500$158 pricier homes ($63K more) · 6 min longer commute
Lexington, SC 29073 88%1,119$77,229$216,300$147 pricier homes ($47K more) · 6 min longer commute
Fountain Inn, SC 29644 88%1,092$70,301$257,400$157 pricier homes ($88K more) · smaller
Hephzibah, GA 30815 88%1,060$70,202$188,600$144 7 min longer commute
Perry, GA 31069 88%948$74,501$227,300$156 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller · older residents
Pearl, MS 39208 88%624$65,480$185,200$161 older homes
Petal, MS 39465 88%627$74,035$185,700$149 smaller · 6 min longer commute
London, KY 40741 88%1,102$64,552$168,500$149 smaller · older residents
Joplin, MO 64804 88%774$62,574$185,300$142 older residents
Hope Mills, NC 28348 87%1,270$66,129$217,400$158 pricier homes ($48K more) · 8 min longer commute
Boiling Springs, SC 29316 87%1,117$74,735$244,900$151 pricier homes ($76K more) · 6 min longer commute
Gaffney, SC 29341 87%1,133$58,029$188,900$167 smaller

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.