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 79927

El Paso: median income $53,652, home value $138,400, $154/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Albertville, AL 35951 86%1,176$54,229$161,000$166 smaller
Breaux Bridge, LA 70517 85%860$60,778$162,100$128 smaller · older residents
Rayne, LA 70578 85%835$49,875$160,200$127 smaller · older homes
Boaz, AL 35957 84%1,176$51,406$162,600$143 smaller · older homes
Albuquerque, NM 87121 84%237$60,796$208,200$208 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger
Montevallo, AL 35115 82%1,136$57,372$179,000$151 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Batesville, MS 38606 82%963$54,539$162,100$128 smaller
Gray, LA 70359 82%930$56,121$153,400$158 smaller
San Luis, AZ 85349 82%501$60,330$223,200$203 pricier homes ($85K more)
Ocala, FL 34472 81%1,454$64,208$202,500$169 pricier homes ($64K more) · older residents
Valley, AL 36854 81%1,234$55,973$160,100$167 smaller · older residents
Southaven, MS 38671 81%966$61,843$189,000$150 pricier homes ($51K more) · more renters
Philadelphia, MS 39350 81%1,005$54,779$104,400$174 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · less walkable
Benton, AR 72015 81%816$66,107$180,300$150 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller
Paragould, AR 72450 81%952$57,725$178,100$135 pricier homes ($40K more) · more renters
Hope Mills, NC 28348 80%1,590$66,129$217,400$158 pricier homes ($79K more)
Toccoa, GA 30577 80%1,341$53,818$181,100$164 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller · older residents
Bay Minette, AL 36507 80%1,093$50,120$183,800$160 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller · older residents
Houma, LA 70363 80%937$46,748$147,400$111 smaller · older homes
Hammond, LA 70403 80%938$50,976$212,400$148 pricier homes ($74K more) · more renters
Deridder, LA 70634 80%770$62,940$162,700$118 smaller · older residents
Van Buren, AR 72956 80%736$62,988$184,100$141 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Hobbs, NM 88240 80%198$63,270$186,900$148 pricier homes ($49K more) · more renters · older homes
Waycross, GA 31503 79%1,408$55,895$109,900$134 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · older homes
Albertville, AL 35950 79%1,175$57,329$180,500$162 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · 6 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.