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 Llano, TX 78643

Llano: median income $68,365, home value $362,600, $239/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Minocqua, WI 54548 97%1,150$69,569$336,400$288 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Columbus, NC 28722 96%1,000$67,760$307,300$225 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Beaufort, NC 28516 94%1,305$66,057$315,400$270 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 92%974$71,383$341,400$248 Very close on everything we compare
Eagle River, WI 54521 92%1,164$74,071$305,100$257 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Walker, MN 56484 92%1,151$67,019$311,200$272 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Flat Rock, NC 28731 91%990$66,309$402,300$253 pricier homes ($40K more)
Hayesville, NC 28904 91%910$56,480$284,500$234 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Clayton, GA 30525 91%928$65,150$274,200$258 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Park Rapids, MN 56470 91%1,137$67,500$291,100$192 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger · younger residents
Paradise, CA 95969 91%1,435$69,067$455,500$287 pricier homes ($93K more)
Wiscasset, ME 04578 90%1,821$81,063$327,400$234 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Maggie Valley, NC 28751 90%956$69,057$313,500$292 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
South Haven, MI 49090 90%1,057$68,920$295,000$293 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · older homes
Custer, SD 57730 90%932$83,469$378,800$279 Very close on everything we compare
Dolores, CO 81323 90%731$75,393$392,000$291 pricier homes ($29K more) · younger residents
Clarksville, VA 23927 89%1,220$70,938$295,500$198 cheaper homes ($67K less) · 7 min longer commute
Waynesville, NC 28785 89%963$61,769$310,300$252 cheaper homes ($52K less) · younger residents
Chattanooga, TN 37419 89%823$74,787$351,800$245 Very close on everything we compare
Boyne City, MI 49712 89%1,242$74,033$294,800$318 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Spring Green, WI 53588 89%981$83,417$292,300$232 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller
Aitkin, MN 56431 89%1,121$67,828$295,400$213 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Deerwood, MN 56444 89%1,116$77,500$365,200$238 smaller
Pelican Rapids, MN 56572 89%1,106$79,475$298,800$226 cheaper homes ($64K less)
Lakeside, AZ 85929 89%704$62,752$306,900$290 cheaper homes ($56K less) · more apartments and townhomes

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.