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 El Paso, TX 79901

El Paso: median income $14,872, home value $91,400, $70/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rochester, NY 14605 61%1,757$21,201$82,700$76 younger residents · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Cincinnati, OH 45225 58%1,331$20,348$103,100$66 younger residents · less walkable
Toledo, OH 43604 53%1,437$20,734$64,800$175 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Cleveland, OH 44104 48%1,526$24,111$69,300$69 larger · younger residents · more homeowners
Saint Louis, MO 63106 48%1,032$20,679$214,400$88 pricier homes ($123K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Schenectady, NY 12307 47%1,930$24,758$104,600$122 younger residents · more homeowners
Cincinnati, OH 45214 43%1,331$27,852$100,500$93 younger residents · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Cleveland, OH 44103 42%1,526$27,047$80,500$47 larger · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Shreveport, LA 71101 40%746$19,351$84,900$50 older residents · 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Springfield, MA 01105 39%1,988$24,036$217,800$136 pricier homes ($126K more) · younger residents · older homes
Camden, NJ 08102 39%1,834$33,852$84,500$80 younger residents · more homeowners
Toledo, OH 43620 39%1,436$23,483$131,300$67 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller · younger residents
Waterbury, CT 06702 38%1,959$14,474$286,100— pricier homes ($195K more) · smaller · older residents
Memphis, TN 38105 37%975$34,015$90,200$92 smaller · newer homes
Cincinnati, OH 45232 37%1,334$28,367$130,500$87 pricier homes ($39K more) · younger residents · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55454 37%1,157$23,100$186,600$127 pricier homes ($95K more) · younger residents · newer homes
Buffalo, NY 14204 36%1,690$28,182$152,400$150 pricier homes ($61K more) · more homeowners · newer homes
Augusta, GA 30901 34%1,428$25,163$104,000$109 larger · younger residents · more homeowners
Milwaukee, WI 53233 34%1,277$23,750$137,500$146 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · younger residents
North Little Rock, AR 72114 34%846$30,175$130,000$85 pricier homes ($39K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Terre Haute, IN 47807 33%1,193$24,706$71,200$46 larger · younger residents · more homeowners
Springfield, MA 01103 32%1,988$21,355$185,700$172 pricier homes ($94K more) · smaller · younger residents
Memphis, TN 38126 31%974$30,071$59,300$122 cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Cleveland, OH 44110 30%1,530$31,928$60,900$61 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · more homeowners
South Bend, IN 46601 30%1,308$30,789$145,000$96 pricier homes ($54K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter 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.