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 Mountainair, NM 87036

Mountainair: median income $47,132, home value $209,100, $111/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Union, WV 24983 85%1,448$51,667$219,900$126 older homes
Millersville, MO 63766 85%941$58,828$210,100$115 Very close on everything we compare
Oakwood, TX 75855 85%636$45,962$186,000— Very close on everything we compare
Amado, AZ 85645 82%342$60,714$206,800$173 smaller
Bolton, MS 39041 81%922$41,137$174,600— cheaper homes ($35K less)
Hillsboro, KY 41049 81%1,280$52,969$158,300$117 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Hartland, ME 04943 80%2,062$46,141$139,200$113 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Port Sanilac, MI 48469 80%1,408$56,023$162,700$134 cheaper homes ($46K less) · older homes
Avondale, CO 81022 80%266$60,481$210,400$87 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Cape Vincent, NY 13618 79%1,721$61,494$228,700$143 8 min shorter commute
Rockford, AL 35136 79%1,154$50,114$140,300$154 cheaper homes ($69K less) · younger residents
Wellington, KY 40387 79%1,289$45,391$123,300$147 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Coulterville, IL 62237 79%957$55,208$150,200$85 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Cookson, OK 74427 79%646$50,089$123,100$173 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Laurel Springs, NC 28644 78%1,409$52,798$222,400$135 more renters · more single-family homes
La Center, KY 42056 78%983$56,776$131,300$91 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Goreville, IL 62939 78%987$65,750$173,000$114 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · younger residents
Stuart, OK 74570 78%575$57,131$163,000— cheaper homes ($46K less) · younger residents
Dryden, VA 24243 77%1,316$52,308$140,400$119 cheaper homes ($69K less) · younger residents
Elloree, SC 29047 77%1,469$48,571$189,700$160 larger
Fairview, MI 48621 77%1,369$51,304$145,300$134 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
Springbrook, WI 54875 77%1,099$57,022$172,500$191 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Hill City, MN 55748 77%1,085$53,810$201,300$156 younger residents
Edgar Springs, MO 65462 77%831$54,712$121,000$116 cheaper homes ($88K less) · smaller · younger residents
Edgard, LA 70049 77%966$68,953$182,900— cheaper homes ($26K less)

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.