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 Luling, TX 78648

Luling: median income $57,621, home value $217,500, $186/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bessemer City, NC 28016 95%1,028$57,147$222,700$183 larger
Federalsburg, MD 21632 94%1,392$61,316$216,000$184 Very close on everything we compare
Spring Hope, NC 27882 93%1,211$52,691$169,900$195 cheaper homes ($48K less)
South Pittsburg, TN 37380 93%787$59,304$194,500$218 Very close on everything we compare
Lake City, TN 37769 93%902$61,250$183,000$188 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Orange, MA 01364 92%1,663$55,532$247,800$207 pricier homes ($30K more)
Charlestown, NH 03603 92%1,677$56,731$230,400$173 smaller
Fairfield, ME 04937 92%1,840$63,933$163,700$164 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Plainfield, CT 06374 92%1,655$71,882$248,700$194 pricier homes ($31K more)
Everett, PA 15537 92%1,301$62,538$197,000$140 Very close on everything we compare
Blackstone, VA 23824 92%1,241$55,599$223,200$141 Very close on everything we compare
Walhalla, SC 29691 92%921$49,639$190,600$163 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Rockwood, TN 37854 92%865$55,856$177,500$196 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
Burton, MI 48519 92%1,203$64,351$159,100$152 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Oconto Falls, WI 54154 92%1,170$59,767$200,900$172 Very close on everything we compare
Stanley, WI 54768 92%1,118$54,964$208,700$158 younger residents
Cuba, MO 65453 92%682$62,790$176,800$168 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Aurora, MO 65605 92%552$53,294$160,200$156 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Yerington, NV 89447 92%1,380$56,691$277,500$233 pricier homes ($60K more)
Skowhegan, ME 04976 91%1,843$53,534$165,000$158 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Timberville, VA 22853 91%1,241$67,083$245,800$248 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Elkin, NC 28621 91%1,073$53,616$159,000$171 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Commerce, GA 30530 91%890$55,392$274,800$174 pricier homes ($57K more) · newer homes
Ocala, FL 34479 91%935$54,283$207,400$165 larger
Carthage, TN 37030 91%816$61,800$252,600$157 pricier homes ($35K more)

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.