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 Buffalo Gap, TX 79508

Buffalo Gap: median income $105,000, home value $210,000, $210/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Henley, MO 65040 92%594$89,167$225,800$190 Very close on everything we compare
Lake Cormorant, MS 38641 90%584$96,208$237,400$172 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Zanesfield, OH 43360 90%1,055$105,795$232,100$240 Very close on everything we compare
De Mossville, KY 41033 88%969$100,260$216,300$179 larger · younger residents
Haskins, OH 43525 88%1,090$108,672$241,300$179 pricier homes ($31K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Agency, MO 64401 88%584$99,398$271,900— pricier homes ($62K more) · larger
Estell Manor, NJ 08319 87%1,477$100,278$315,000$219 pricier homes ($105K more)
Check, VA 24072 87%1,158$109,500$243,400$170 pricier homes ($33K more) · 6 min longer commute
Essex, IL 60935 87%888$110,000$248,900$185 pricier homes ($39K more) · more single-family homes
Maywood, MO 63454 87%698$88,192$167,200$226 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Erwinville, LA 70729 87%509$109,653$300,000$187 pricier homes ($90K more) · younger residents
Monroe, ME 04951 86%1,855$81,300$220,300$191 older residents
Leasburg, NC 27291 86%1,207$89,610$269,900$302 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger
Rives Junction, MI 49277 86%1,092$91,912$217,500$185 larger
Elkhart, IA 50073 86%742$100,972$274,700$264 pricier homes ($65K more) · older residents
Eagle, NE 68347 86%618$88,281$237,900$180 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Traskwood, AR 72167 86%439$89,886$211,100$143 Very close on everything we compare
Cashion, OK 73016 86%271$103,872$285,400$186 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger
Palermo, ME 04354 85%1,832$89,095$259,700$253 pricier homes ($50K more) · older residents
Dresser, WI 54009 85%982$89,861$249,300$198 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Poplar, WI 54864 85%1,074$91,250$242,100$182 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents · older homes
New Underwood, SD 57761 85%831$97,734$253,100$211 pricier homes ($43K more) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Davis Junction, IL 61020 85%897$105,769$202,800$164 larger · 6 min longer commute
Bartelso, IL 62218 85%725$91,250$217,800$193 larger · older residents · more single-family homes
Highlandville, MO 65669 85%491$86,932$243,800$162 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · 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.