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 Big Spring, TX 79720

Big Spring: median income $68,785, home value $152,500, $75/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jacksonville, IL 62650 91%811$65,762$141,300$90 5 min shorter commute
Vincennes, IN 47591 90%899$61,803$157,400$106 Very close on everything we compare
Herrin, IL 62948 89%799$60,975$116,700$89 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Newton, KS 67114 89%461$70,018$166,300$103 Very close on everything we compare
Morgan City, LA 70380 89%629$54,595$141,600$80 Very close on everything we compare
Duncan, OK 73533 89%255$59,906$144,500$103 Very close on everything we compare
Pascagoula, MS 39567 88%772$62,254$139,500$93 smaller
Kokomo, IN 46901 88%1,021$60,495$142,100$123 Very close on everything we compare
Peru, IN 46970 88%1,033$57,842$118,700$88 cheaper homes ($34K less)
New Castle, IN 47362 88%1,040$60,258$146,800$113 older residents
Granite City, IL 62040 88%777$60,031$112,000$106 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Decatur, IL 62521 88%871$66,337$125,100$91 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Lincoln, IL 62656 88%864$62,017$141,600$109 smaller
Chillicothe, MO 64601 88%681$63,061$153,900$108 smaller
El Dorado, KS 67042 87%463$62,857$141,300$119 smaller
Woodward, OK 73801 87%310$58,877$169,100$104 smaller · newer homes
Ashland, KY 41102 86%1,136$67,879$153,800$110 older residents
Fostoria, OH 44830 86%1,169$62,990$121,700$115 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Ottumwa, IA 52501 86%785$63,426$122,700$121 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Rockford, IL 61109 86%966$62,973$139,400$130 Very close on everything we compare
Taylorville, IL 62568 86%845$62,718$123,700$109 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · older residents
Winfield, KS 67156 86%427$58,821$153,300$90 smaller
El Dorado, AR 71730 86%515$55,770$130,300$100 Very close on everything we compare
Altoona, PA 16601 85%1,397$58,070$147,200$88 older homes
Greenfield, OH 45123 85%1,121$62,404$161,700$106 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.