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 Sierra Blanca, TX 79851

Sierra Blanca: median income $55,500, home value $62,600, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
White River, SD 57579 91%891$56,474$61,000— Very close on everything we compare
Hays, MT 59527 86%1,174$54,500$80,800— Very close on everything we compare
Winterhaven, CA 92283 82%562$43,393$94,200— pricier homes ($32K more)
Dawson, AL 35963 81%1,146$59,926$82,600$167 8 min longer commute
Crow Agency, MT 59022 81%1,004$53,083$57,800— larger · younger residents
Arkoma, OK 74901 81%690$43,929$83,600$118 larger
Pine Ridge, SD 57770 80%837$52,250$57,600— larger
Harlem, MT 59526 80%1,212$63,869$85,200— larger
White Swan, WA 98952 80%1,333$50,417$102,300— pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Taholah, WA 98587 78%1,500$51,458$112,300— pricier homes ($50K more)
Oakwood, VA 24631 77%1,392$43,980$66,800$77 larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Saint Michael, ND 58370 77%1,209$43,750$101,800— pricier homes ($39K more)
Oberlin, LA 70655 77%746$50,893$90,600— pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · newer homes
Lexa, AR 72355 77%876$55,307$97,600— pricier homes ($35K more) · older residents
Neopit, WI 54150 76%1,303$54,464$66,800— 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Dunseith, ND 58329 76%1,251$51,065$88,800— pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Ina, IL 62846 76%1,048$65,500$103,300$142 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · older residents
Shawneetown, IL 62984 76%1,073$50,288$87,800$78 pricier homes ($25K more) · older residents
Mc Rae Helena, GA 31037 75%1,317$55,794$58,900$78 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Essex, MO 63846 75%967$50,813$93,300$40 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Tulsa, OK 74130 75%641$46,691$89,800$91 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Niobrara, NE 68760 74%895$53,409$94,300— pricier homes ($32K more) · 9 min longer commute
Mannsville, OK 73447 73%533$49,904$97,700$134 pricier homes ($35K more) · 10 min longer commute · newer homes
Blue Mountain, MS 38610 72%975$51,675$92,900$66 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · older residents
Eagle Butte, SD 57625 72%979$43,235$68,000— larger · younger residents · more renters

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.