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 79703

Midland: median income $77,285, home value $224,000, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Artesia, NM 88210 94%145$79,632$223,800$165 Very close on everything we compare
Ephrata, WA 98823 94%1,399$73,074$267,300$223 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Garden City, KS 67846 93%421$73,218$196,100$196 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Shippensburg, PA 17257 91%1,479$71,181$227,900$156 Very close on everything we compare
Grand Island, NE 68801 91%653$63,617$203,500$129 larger
Burley, ID 83318 91%969$71,282$276,500$199 pricier homes ($53K more)
Coalinga, CA 93210 91%1,080$74,817$266,400$226 pricier homes ($42K more)
Greencastle, IN 46135 90%1,004$73,677$225,600$143 Very close on everything we compare
Little Chute, WI 54140 90%1,132$82,472$227,000$168 smaller · older residents
Worthington, MN 56187 90%880$64,326$219,000$158 Very close on everything we compare
Lexington, NE 68850 90%623$69,238$161,400$116 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Susanville, CA 96130 90%1,182$72,465$256,000$171 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents
Erlanger, KY 41018 89%1,097$68,605$192,100$199 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Goshen, IN 46526 89%1,116$67,461$204,200$159 larger
Lincoln, NE 68524 89%681$81,045$234,600$168 smaller
Fresno, CA 93725 89%1,053$72,232$281,800$257 pricier homes ($58K more) · 6 min longer commute
Grandview, WA 98930 89%1,366$64,583$303,500$251 pricier homes ($80K more)
Bellefontaine, OH 43311 88%1,174$67,914$207,600$171 older residents
Seymour, IN 47274 88%1,032$71,457$188,600$147 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · older residents
Le Mars, IA 51031 88%816$76,525$222,800$145 smaller · older residents
Guymon, OK 73942 88%329$61,522$184,500$142 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Ridgecrest, CA 93555 88%926$86,700$252,900$184 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Yakima, WA 98903 88%1,409$75,343$287,400$269 pricier homes ($63K more)
Sunnyside, WA 98944 88%1,372$64,276$260,000$225 pricier homes ($36K more)
Orrville, OH 44667 87%1,283$75,616$208,600$166 smaller · 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.