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 Fort Defiance, AZ 86504

Fort Defiance: median income $46,573, home value $45,000, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Marlin, TX 76661 87%765$41,056$66,700$78 Very close on everything we compare
Kayenta, AZ 86033 85%93$40,313$36,200— Very close on everything we compare
Mescalero, NM 88340 85%257$36,927$48,600— smaller
Crownpoint, NM 87313 83%59$43,041$70,600— pricier homes ($26K more) · 5 min longer commute
Evarts, KY 40828 82%1,437$41,354$62,200$86 older residents
Tuba City, AZ 86045 81%125$50,844$68,200— larger · more apartments and townhomes
San Diego, TX 78384 80%841$47,603$78,100$168 pricier homes ($33K more) · 6 min longer commute
Raymondville, TX 78580 80%923$53,841$71,700$163 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Post, TX 79356 80%471$46,351$79,900$76 pricier homes ($35K more)
Prescott, AR 71857 79%900$53,125$86,300$52 pricier homes ($41K more)
Morton, TX 79346 79%385$40,833$48,100$80 smaller
Chinle, AZ 86503 79%40$36,321$37,800— larger
Latta, SC 29565 77%1,673$44,871$72,600$99 pricier homes ($28K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Cottage Hills, IL 62018 77%1,064$40,438$70,200$150 pricier homes ($25K more) · smaller · older homes
San Carlos, AZ 85550 77%183$51,491$65,800— less walkable
Americus, GA 31719 76%1,439$42,905$81,600$102 pricier homes ($37K more) · older residents
Hollandale, MS 38748 76%1,049$44,615$83,900$51 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller
Santa Rosa, TX 78593 76%933$48,649$85,100$127 pricier homes ($40K more)
Crosbyton, TX 79322 76%468$48,750$65,500$82 smaller · older homes
Moorhead, MS 38761 75%1,065$33,625$62,900— smaller
Mount Olive, MS 39119 75%1,147$49,766$72,600$105 pricier homes ($28K more)
Pine Ridge, SD 57770 75%615$52,250$57,600— 10 min shorter commute
Dunseith, ND 58329 75%1,016$51,065$88,800— pricier homes ($44K more) · smaller
West Helena, AR 72390 75%1,043$38,294$64,700$54 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Wewoka, OK 74884 75%701$46,658$88,600$97 pricier homes ($44K more) · older residents

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.