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 79705

Midland: median income $105,310, home value $351,700, $188/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Shakopee, MN 55379 93%994$106,312$379,700$201 pricier homes ($28K more)
Olathe, KS 66061 93%626$110,176$360,500$210 Very close on everything we compare
River Falls, WI 54022 92%1,022$96,642$373,100$203 smaller
De Pere, WI 54115 92%1,143$94,721$339,500$213 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64155 92%654$97,471$300,900$189 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Gardner, KS 66030 92%618$97,822$313,100$200 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller
Knightdale, NC 27545 91%1,375$91,527$346,900$180 newer homes
Chaska, MN 55318 91%994$112,243$420,400$211 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller · older residents
Chesapeake, VA 23321 90%1,495$101,568$367,900$209 Very close on everything we compare
Hilliard, OH 43026 90%1,191$111,440$347,900$212 Very close on everything we compare
Ankeny, IA 50021 90%818$99,572$317,200$229 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller
Northfield, MN 55057 90%984$92,622$363,600$193 smaller
Rochester, MN 55901 90%980$94,607$317,000$177 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Georgetown, KY 40324 89%1,077$85,110$289,100$184 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Blacklick, OH 43004 89%1,207$101,175$335,400$195 Very close on everything we compare
Noblesville, IN 46060 89%1,053$91,918$321,100$173 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 5 min longer commute
Grandville, MI 49418 89%1,165$84,846$321,700$212 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55443 89%1,019$95,082$370,800$179 more walkable
Lake Charles, LA 70605 89%540$86,015$308,700$142 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Fayetteville, AR 72704 89%526$96,014$331,100$212 Very close on everything we compare
Idaho Falls, ID 83406 89%956$86,991$392,200$177 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Springville, UT 84663 89%772$90,252$455,800$241 pricier homes ($104K more)
Concord, NC 28027 88%1,253$92,219$372,400$206 larger · 5 min longer commute
Greer, SC 29650 88%1,158$94,522$342,500$192 older residents
Clarksville, TN 37043 88%900$95,219$356,900$185 6 min longer commute

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.