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 Booker, TX 79005

Booker: median income $70,223, home value $155,900, $114/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Syracuse, KS 67878 93%127$71,850$118,800— cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Seiling, OK 73663 92%94$61,103$166,800$143 Very close on everything we compare
Wolsey, SD 57384 91%560$64,063$203,000$125 pricier homes ($47K more)
Dayton, IN 47941 90%791$78,553$175,400$146 Very close on everything we compare
Dorchester, WI 54425 90%794$63,424$175,000$101 Very close on everything we compare
Alta, IA 51002 89%512$70,625$167,100$118 larger
Unity, WI 54488 89%787$63,571$142,400$116 6 min longer commute
Hancock, MN 56244 89%672$85,417$162,100$112 older homes
Renville, MN 56284 89%640$72,500$162,500$116 older homes
Rangely, CO 81648 89%514$71,705$199,300$117 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger
Ashley, IN 46705 88%901$67,266$159,700$131 6 min longer commute
Spencer, WI 54479 88%783$77,371$182,800$148 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Brashear, MO 63533 88%509$79,464$187,500$109 pricier homes ($32K more) · 5 min longer commute
Hennessey, OK 73742 88%149$70,538$171,800$92 larger
Texico, NM 88135 88%201$70,417$145,000— older residents
Warren, MN 56762 87%838$62,933$160,100$102 larger · older residents
Pantego, NC 27860 86%1,329$62,083$145,300— 7 min longer commute
Afton, IA 50830 86%466$61,094$113,300$114 cheaper homes ($43K less) · 7 min longer commute
Abbotsford, WI 54405 86%795$69,659$177,900$112 larger · more renters
Stetsonville, WI 54480 86%801$68,333$179,900$158 older residents · 5 min longer commute
New York Mills, MN 56567 86%747$72,500$215,300$132 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Broadus, MT 59317 86%657$71,250$197,400— pricier homes ($42K more) · older residents
Dakota City, NE 68731 86%464$79,924$205,600$156 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Eastaboga, AL 36260 85%846$73,007$160,900$157 larger
Jackson Center, OH 45334 85%932$70,595$196,800$156 pricier homes ($41K more) · older residents

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.