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 La Grange, TX 78945

La Grange: median income $75,446, home value $340,300, $168/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Milford, IA 51351 94%932$73,824$273,100$184 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Park Rapids, MN 56470 93%1,181$67,500$291,100$192 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Kingsport, TN 37663 92%947$76,007$238,900$169 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Clear Lake, IA 50428 92%935$81,037$283,400$232 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Grand Rapids, MN 55744 92%1,211$70,644$241,200$176 cheaper homes ($99K less) · larger
Montoursville, PA 17754 91%1,365$72,633$249,300$156 cheaper homes ($91K less) · older homes
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 91%1,170$70,037$314,700$217 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Omaha, NE 68152 91%791$84,958$316,400$162 smaller
Centre Hall, PA 16828 90%1,315$76,468$273,800$192 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Oakland, MD 21550 90%1,193$64,921$233,300$196 cheaper homes ($107K less)
Roanoke, VA 24019 90%1,102$77,870$260,800$161 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Troutville, VA 24175 90%1,104$82,314$302,200$167 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Saint Clair, MI 48079 90%1,195$79,891$293,000$179 cheaper homes ($47K less) · 6 min longer commute
Spirit Lake, IA 51360 90%939$75,882$271,700$253 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Lake City, MN 55041 90%1,035$78,672$275,200$221 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Glenwood, MN 56334 90%1,090$69,525$279,900$191 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Buffalo, WY 82834 90%1,133$63,395$328,700$222 Very close on everything we compare
Oakhurst, CA 93644 90%1,402$81,196$396,300$250 pricier homes ($56K more)
Wellsboro, PA 16901 89%1,363$67,146$237,100$139 cheaper homes ($103K less)
Abingdon, VA 24211 89%979$85,747$306,600$176 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Munroe Falls, OH 44262 89%1,162$81,214$250,800$158 cheaper homes ($90K less) · smaller
Plymouth, WI 53073 89%1,075$76,442$258,900$194 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger
Alexandria, MN 56308 89%1,107$78,177$341,900$194 larger
Clarkston, WA 99403 89%1,572$71,482$325,300$216 larger
Carlisle, PA 17015 88%1,314$86,981$297,500$189 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger

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.