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 79903

El Paso: median income $37,155, home value $128,400, $138/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oklahoma City, OK 73111 93%576$40,340$120,700$111 Very close on everything we compare
Omaha, NE 68110 90%877$39,813$132,800$122 smaller · younger residents
Burton, MI 48529 86%1,463$41,333$86,700$113 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40215 85%1,247$43,725$114,900$143 younger residents · more renters
Terre Haute, IN 47804 85%1,191$40,674$94,200$88 cheaper homes ($34K less) · younger residents
Tulsa, OK 74106 85%671$40,776$109,500$123 younger residents
Roanoke, VA 24017 84%1,547$47,360$150,600$114 larger · younger residents
Jacksonville, FL 32208 84%1,465$41,324$157,800$124 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Independence, MO 64050 84%844$48,834$145,300$156 Very close on everything we compare
Jacksonville, FL 32254 83%1,462$34,953$110,500$152 younger residents
Sheffield, AL 35660 82%1,100$40,065$135,400$113 smaller · less walkable
Cleveland, OH 44128 82%1,526$43,993$98,500$98 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Hamilton, OH 45015 82%1,333$48,312$120,700$169 younger residents
Tulsa, OK 74127 82%668$46,373$134,200$126 less walkable
Jacksonville, FL 32206 81%1,467$39,242$173,400$134 pricier homes ($45K more) · younger residents
Memphis, TN 38114 81%975$34,206$82,000$90 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Cleveland, OH 44119 81%1,529$44,077$117,100$97 8 min longer commute
Savannah, GA 31415 80%1,481$37,109$149,700$167 younger residents · more renters
Springfield, IL 62703 80%1,089$45,009$96,500$97 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · younger residents
Charleston, WV 25387 79%1,469$43,063$91,400$122 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Columbus, OH 43227 79%1,428$48,159$152,800$155 larger · younger residents
Fort Wayne, IN 46809 79%1,338$52,253$133,100$156 smaller
Wichita, KS 67211 79%658$44,120$109,400$95 younger residents
Cleveland, OH 44135 78%1,513$53,848$132,800$154 larger · younger residents
Dayton, OH 45404 78%1,361$38,874$86,900$119 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 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.