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 79924

El Paso: median income $56,976, home value $148,500, $145/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Oklahoma City, OK 73159 94%563$54,642$159,200$142 smaller
Des Moines, IA 50315 90%971$60,590$173,200$187 smaller · older homes
Lansing, MI 48911 89%1,406$56,631$146,600$133 smaller
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 89%1,067$61,870$168,600$149 more apartments and townhomes
Independence, MO 64055 89%836$62,439$176,700$142 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · older residents
Tucson, AZ 85713 89%268$53,152$193,300$203 pricier homes ($45K more)
Columbus, OH 43207 88%1,418$63,310$180,800$174 pricier homes ($32K more) · older homes
Indianapolis, IN 46241 88%1,248$53,653$130,200$129 smaller
Wichita, KS 67217 88%648$55,565$121,100$123 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Tulsa, OK 74107 88%662$53,505$135,600$145 smaller
Columbia, SC 29203 87%1,475$46,054$141,300$148 more renters
Louisville, KY 40219 87%1,246$55,720$204,200$167 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller
Indianapolis, IN 46229 87%1,264$61,388$191,100$137 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · less walkable
Roanoke, VA 24012 86%1,546$52,973$184,400$143 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · older residents
Greenville, SC 29611 86%1,394$51,565$195,700$181 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Jacksonville, FL 32210 86%1,461$61,050$225,600$164 pricier homes ($77K more) · 5 min longer commute
Jacksonville, FL 32211 86%1,469$57,021$229,700$179 pricier homes ($81K more) · smaller
Pensacola, FL 32505 86%1,135$44,783$136,500$135 smaller
Louisville, KY 40214 86%1,242$54,931$184,600$146 pricier homes ($36K more) · older homes
Louisville, KY 40216 86%1,239$56,441$167,100$150 older homes
Columbus, OH 43224 86%1,421$53,321$170,800$177 older homes
Sandusky, OH 44870 86%1,463$62,082$163,200$139 smaller · older residents · older homes
Indianapolis, IN 46203 86%1,256$57,393$168,200$137 smaller · older homes
Terre Haute, IN 47802 86%1,183$57,395$170,200$136 smaller · less walkable
Springfield, MO 65802 86%831$55,019$171,200$167 less walkable

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.