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 White Deer, TX 79097

White Deer: median income $88,182, home value $144,600, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Helena, OH 43435 94%1,047$89,000$176,400$167 pricier homes ($32K more)
Gnadenhutten, OH 44629 94%1,126$81,625$159,300$191 larger
Boswell, IN 47921 94%828$100,455$165,000$114 Very close on everything we compare
Atlanta, IL 61723 94%731$85,230$150,800$113 Very close on everything we compare
Shelton, NE 68876 94%392$82,207$163,800$108 Very close on everything we compare
Monroe City, IN 47557 93%792$84,375$151,600$126 Very close on everything we compare
East Bethany, NY 14054 92%1,333$79,286$172,300$142 pricier homes ($28K more)
Canistota, SD 57012 92%600$94,375$180,200$199 pricier homes ($36K more)
Malta, IL 60150 92%800$86,719$188,400$200 pricier homes ($44K more)
Ashkum, IL 60911 92%811$89,792$158,700$91 Very close on everything we compare
Burrton, KS 67020 92%264$80,680$130,200$77 Very close on everything we compare
Colfax, IL 61728 91%769$97,159$155,200$100 Very close on everything we compare
Forrest, IL 61741 91%784$87,850$167,700$99 6 min shorter commute
Hamlet, IN 46532 90%889$84,866$145,100$138 more homeowners
Bement, IL 61813 90%755$84,063$103,800$94 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Lyndon, KS 66451 90%375$76,908$158,500$123 Very close on everything we compare
Wyoming, NY 14591 89%1,334$85,804$163,500$96 older residents
Cygnet, OH 43413 89%1,029$80,069$139,700$137 older residents
Republic, OH 44867 89%1,058$72,716$167,000$96 larger
Primghar, IA 51245 89%605$69,531$149,700$97 Very close on everything we compare
Tonica, IL 61370 89%767$91,094$155,100$130 older residents · more homeowners
Villa Grove, IL 61956 89%774$75,125$143,000$106 larger
Hardin, MO 64035 89%485$86,756$138,300$144 6 min longer commute
Elgin, NE 68636 89%482$78,056$113,800— cheaper homes ($31K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Shelby, NE 68662 89%447$89,706$168,900$93 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.