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 Plains, TX 79355

Plains: median income $76,967, home value $143,300, $138/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Wauzeka, WI 53826 92%941$73,438$173,200$137 pricier homes ($30K more)
Gardner, IL 60424 91%968$83,250$197,400$133 pricier homes ($54K more)
Tuscarawas, OH 44682 90%1,281$86,250$155,800— Very close on everything we compare
Sunfield, MI 48890 90%1,172$79,444$175,800$144 pricier homes ($33K more)
Blair, WI 54616 90%988$72,222$180,900$146 pricier homes ($38K more)
Minco, OK 73059 90%314$73,125$169,100$130 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Panama, NY 14767 89%1,411$67,607$143,500$156 more homeowners
Bloxom, VA 23308 89%1,558$73,750$138,100$179 Very close on everything we compare
Guston, KY 40142 89%987$81,037$166,100$154 more homeowners
Camp Douglas, WI 54618 89%1,007$73,214$168,800$143 pricier homes ($26K more) · more homeowners
Wilson, AR 72395 89%747$78,507$149,100$139 smaller
Ledbetter, KY 42058 88%854$66,852$118,700$128 more homeowners
Windham, OH 44288 88%1,316$69,205$160,100$142 larger
Alma Center, WI 54611 88%1,005$71,667$164,600$137 more homeowners
Maysville, MO 64469 88%660$62,059$154,000$132 older residents
Morrisville, MO 65710 88%606$77,865$231,000— pricier homes ($88K more)
Niangua, MO 65713 88%637$63,750$197,100$128 pricier homes ($54K more)
Wayne, OK 73095 88%337$77,232$149,500$162 Very close on everything we compare
Theresa, NY 13691 87%1,634$79,943$173,400$147 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Dawson, PA 15428 87%1,365$70,368$123,200$135 older homes
Cowarts, AL 36321 87%1,033$64,267$177,700$152 pricier homes ($34K more) · newer homes
Lewisport, KY 42351 87%952$76,213$169,200$163 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Bloomingburg, OH 43106 87%1,165$82,813$140,200$194 less walkable
Plymouth, OH 44865 87%1,231$76,875$147,200$153 larger · older homes
Paris, MI 49338 87%1,184$69,375$161,900$148 more homeowners

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.