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 Midland, TX 79701

Midland: median income $57,346, home value $214,700, $141/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Grand Island, NE 68801 93%651$63,617$203,500$129 Very close on everything we compare
Elkhart, IN 46516 90%1,111$56,492$153,400$147 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Waterloo, IA 50701 90%898$61,475$183,800$128 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Fond Du Lac, WI 54935 90%1,099$63,144$180,200$169 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Bethany, OK 73008 90%351$57,459$173,200$139 cheaper homes ($42K less) · more renters
Lock Haven, PA 17745 89%1,499$58,555$177,100$120 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40219 89%1,017$55,720$204,200$167 more renters
Beech Grove, IN 46107 89%1,039$56,799$181,100$126 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Mishawaka, IN 46544 89%1,101$58,829$172,200$144 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Big Rapids, MI 49307 89%1,209$60,358$187,800$157 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Worthington, MN 56187 89%877$64,326$219,000$158 smaller
Kansas City, KS 66106 89%640$61,331$168,800$181 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Oswego, NY 13126 88%1,598$65,346$145,400$147 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32211 88%1,214$57,021$229,700$179 5 min longer commute
Decatur, AL 35601 88%888$51,429$172,200$134 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Louisville, KY 40214 88%1,013$54,931$184,600$146 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · more renters
Indianapolis, IN 46229 88%1,047$61,388$191,100$137 6 min longer commute
Hammond, IN 46323 88%1,043$59,688$166,400$138 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Elkhart, IN 46517 88%1,109$56,772$177,200$155 cheaper homes ($38K less) · less walkable
Des Moines, IA 50315 88%808$60,590$173,200$187 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Muscatine, IA 52761 88%892$62,098$170,600$162 cheaper homes ($44K less) · older residents
Kansas City, MO 64117 88%652$59,601$186,900$164 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · more renters
Norfolk, NE 68701 88%739$62,633$214,500$137 5 min shorter commute
Guymon, OK 73942 88%327$61,522$184,500$142 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Price, UT 84501 88%718$58,617$243,800$149 pricier homes ($29K more) · smaller

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.