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 Buchanan Dam, TX 78609

Buchanan Dam: median income $64,418, home value $319,700, $189/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arapahoe, NC 28510 91%1,285$58,839$264,100$240 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Borrego Springs, CA 92004 91%1,063$74,018$390,400$204 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger
Inyokern, CA 93527 90%1,171$62,596$319,000$157 Very close on everything we compare
North Fork, CA 93643 89%1,284$71,082$381,700$203 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · more homeowners
Alstead, NH 03602 88%1,665$70,455$279,400$216 cheaper homes ($40K less) · younger residents
Swan Lake, NY 12783 88%1,510$67,778$248,200$251 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller
Lovingston, VA 22949 88%1,215$52,679$272,700$240 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Saluda, VA 23149 88%1,331$70,743$282,500$206 cheaper homes ($37K less) · younger residents
Albion, ME 04910 87%1,834$62,361$230,900$185 cheaper homes ($89K less) · younger residents
Bracey, VA 23919 87%1,233$66,750$300,000$203 Very close on everything we compare
Clarksville, VA 23927 87%1,210$70,938$295,500$198 larger · younger residents
Panacea, FL 32346 87%838$61,700$267,200$257 cheaper homes ($53K less) · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Eureka Springs, AR 72631 87%475$56,678$259,300$169 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Urbanna, VA 23175 86%1,332$66,858$369,000$215 pricier homes ($49K more) · older homes
Lakehead, CA 96051 86%1,509$69,688$360,000$170 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller
Cuddebackville, NY 12729 85%1,515$66,982$330,100$175 smaller
Tyner, NC 27980 85%1,308$66,111$259,300$202 cheaper homes ($60K less) · younger residents
Iron River, WI 54847 85%1,156$68,795$266,600$236 cheaper homes ($53K less) · more single-family homes
Rimrock, AZ 86335 85%821$64,455$285,200$253 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Lower Lake, CA 95457 85%1,476$63,594$488,800$241 pricier homes ($169K more) · larger · younger residents
Valley, WA 99181 85%1,574$63,661$267,600$218 cheaper homes ($52K less) · more homeowners
Eddington, ME 04428 84%1,881$72,857$244,500$159 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · younger residents
Mcgregor, MN 55760 84%1,129$59,474$274,600$276 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Walker, MN 56484 84%1,147$67,019$311,200$272 larger · 6 min shorter commute
White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645 84%1,287$77,241$287,800$300 cheaper homes ($32K less)

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.