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 Abilene, TX 79601

Abilene: median income $53,631, home value $190,200, $178/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Martin, TN 38237 93%674$51,670$200,900$138 smaller
Twentynine Palms, CA 92277 91%950$60,901$247,700$194 pricier homes ($58K more)
Russellville, AR 72801 90%425$47,830$163,700$129 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Fayetteville, NC 28303 89%1,203$58,223$189,500$142 Very close on everything we compare
Valdosta, GA 31602 89%969$56,939$217,300$132 pricier homes ($27K more)
Murray, KY 42071 89%709$50,198$190,300$151 Very close on everything we compare
Green Bay, WI 54302 89%1,044$58,506$175,300$169 5 min longer commute
Junction City, KS 66441 89%481$59,522$169,800$115 Very close on everything we compare
Alamosa, CO 81101 89%491$54,844$240,400$183 pricier homes ($50K more) · smaller
Cleveland, TN 37311 88%871$47,153$226,800$195 pricier homes ($37K more) · 7 min longer commute
Jonesboro, AR 72401 88%566$45,329$188,600$124 larger
Pueblo, CO 81001 88%486$48,417$220,200$156 pricier homes ($30K more)
Gallup, NM 87301 88%558$58,772$168,500$149 6 min longer commute
Rolla, MO 65401 87%587$56,081$222,800$138 pricier homes ($33K more)
Springfield, MO 65807 87%487$53,870$192,400$162 larger
Emporia, KS 66801 87%457$56,794$152,700$117 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Tahlequah, OK 74464 87%360$51,262$174,000$143 5 min longer commute
Bowling Green, KY 42101 86%815$48,217$207,200$170 larger · 6 min longer commute
Hopkinsville, KY 42240 86%758$51,534$174,200$160 older residents · 7 min longer commute
Mount Pleasant, MI 48858 86%1,116$51,267$170,800$148 larger
Big Rapids, MI 49307 86%1,093$60,358$187,800$157 smaller · more homeowners
Green Bay, WI 54303 86%1,043$60,781$178,600$179 older residents · older homes
Great Falls, MT 59405 86%1,201$59,449$250,100$194 pricier homes ($60K more) · older residents
Natchitoches, LA 71457 86%391$46,668$197,000$134 older residents
Stevens Point, WI 54481 85%996$59,545$201,000$168 Very close on everything we compare

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.