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 Gila Bend, AZ 85337

Gila Bend: median income $55,365, home value $116,500, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Refugio, TX 78377 90%972$49,974$97,000$87 larger
Madison, WV 25130 87%1,768$53,294$95,900$76 larger
Albany, MO 64402 87%1,137$54,444$111,900— less walkable
Cresson, PA 16630 86%1,949$58,315$152,500$95 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Dupo, IL 62239 86%1,318$61,191$111,400$123 larger · less walkable
Sparta, IL 62286 86%1,341$61,220$117,800$94 larger
New Madrid, MO 63869 86%1,338$57,959$132,100$108 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Three Rivers, TX 78071 86%918$60,500$158,500— pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Ceredo, WV 25507 85%1,728$49,245$148,400$73 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Rolling Fork, MS 39159 85%1,266$45,995$110,700$71 Very close on everything we compare
Byesville, OH 43723 85%1,791$51,474$110,800$116 larger · 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Toledo, IA 52342 84%1,267$57,813$142,700$102 pricier homes ($26K more) · older homes
Portageville, MO 63873 84%1,328$54,362$128,400$26 larger · less walkable
Drumright, OK 74030 84%947$45,357$92,200$104 Very close on everything we compare
Kahoka, MO 63445 83%1,271$48,370$109,100$91 larger · less walkable
Augusta, AR 72006 83%1,232$51,775$126,800$102 older residents · less walkable
Leachville, AR 72438 83%1,299$56,688$123,500$108 less walkable
Youngsville, PA 16371 82%1,922$57,514$116,600$57 larger · less walkable · older homes
Hamlin, WV 25523 82%1,752$66,563$86,600$95 cheaper homes ($30K less) · more homeowners
Sandusky, MI 48471 82%1,766$62,844$142,700$110 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger
Bethany, MO 64424 82%1,153$53,479$120,800$37 larger · less walkable · older homes
Appleton City, MO 64724 82%1,111$49,338$115,600$86 less walkable
Lordsburg, NM 88045 82%238$44,063$99,100$77 larger · younger residents
Great Bend, PA 18821 81%2,105$52,857$171,800$156 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller
Altavista, VA 24517 81%1,905$53,201$145,200$151 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · 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.