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 Elgin, TX 78621

Elgin: median income $98,534, home value $320,800, $162/sq ft, 38-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Zebulon, NC 27597 93%1,165$84,625$312,500$183 Very close on everything we compare
Davenport, FL 33837 92%961$81,276$334,800$183 larger
Summerville, SC 29483 91%1,027$85,750$333,300$189 larger
Villa Rica, GA 30180 91%765$88,514$283,500$169 cheaper homes ($37K less)
White House, TN 37188 91%748$90,856$347,300$199 pricier homes ($27K more) · smaller
Denham Springs, LA 70706 91%386$91,070$252,800$158 cheaper homes ($68K less) · more homeowners
Maricopa, AZ 85139 91%882$86,894$344,200$179 Very close on everything we compare
Auburn, GA 30011 90%832$86,402$328,000$179 more single-family homes
Guyton, GA 31312 90%953$101,750$295,900$172 Very close on everything we compare
Orange Park, FL 32065 90%931$97,455$299,400$171 6 min shorter commute
Middleburg, FL 32068 90%926$84,431$289,500$187 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Stephens City, VA 22655 89%1,243$109,169$388,400$202 pricier homes ($68K more)
Charles Town, WV 25414 89%1,264$105,500$391,700$180 pricier homes ($71K more)
Jefferson, GA 30549 89%847$96,195$350,500$184 pricier homes ($30K more)
Minooka, IL 60447 89%922$108,210$322,700$179 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Montgomery, IL 60538 89%934$97,131$267,300$207 cheaper homes ($54K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Slidell, LA 70461 89%456$89,003$273,500$142 cheaper homes ($47K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Angier, NC 27501 88%1,137$73,336$272,800$163 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($48K less)
Acworth, GA 30102 88%790$97,676$333,000$186 5 min shorter commute
Dallas, GA 30132 88%774$109,914$363,300$168 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Wimauma, FL 33598 88%927$97,520$395,500$182 pricier homes ($75K more) · newer homes
Saint Cloud, FL 34772 88%981$97,868$390,900$195 pricier homes ($70K more)
Springville, AL 35146 88%682$86,614$267,800$163 cheaper homes ($53K less) · smaller
Yorkville, IL 60560 88%926$110,326$346,300$195 pricier homes ($26K more)
Walker, LA 70785 88%389$89,103$245,000$158 cheaper homes ($76K less) · 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.