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 Hernandez, NM 87537

Hernandez: median income $48,228, home value $250,000, $249/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Mount Upton, NY 13809 85%1,692$52,167$206,900— cheaper homes ($43K less)
Myton, UT 84052 85%355$59,167$222,500$203 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Green Bay, VA 23942 84%1,540$51,505$211,700$192 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Ash, NC 28420 84%1,564$53,935$198,100$187 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Thurmond, NC 28683 84%1,401$45,423$176,600$230 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Clallam Bay, WA 98326 83%1,244$46,500$266,100— smaller · more renters
Harrells, NC 28444 81%1,569$44,330$206,700$213 cheaper homes ($43K less) · younger residents · newer homes
Elk Park, NC 28622 80%1,346$44,028$169,900$199 cheaper homes ($80K less) · more single-family homes
Gordonsville, TN 38563 80%1,122$50,313$241,300$338 Very close on everything we compare
Siletz, OR 97380 80%1,106$60,132$277,200— pricier homes ($27K more)
Cedar Bluff, AL 35959 79%1,165$52,356$234,500$246 larger · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Lockbourne, OH 43137 79%1,284$49,145$218,200$183 cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger residents
Elsinore, UT 84724 79%376$49,438$238,200$249 smaller · more single-family homes
Canyonville, OR 97417 79%1,027$50,217$246,200$269 more single-family homes · more walkable
Stanfield, OR 97875 79%955$57,451$208,900$232 cheaper homes ($41K less) · more single-family homes · more walkable
Purlear, NC 28665 78%1,379$45,685$167,400$310 cheaper homes ($83K less) · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Charlestown, NH 03603 77%1,848$56,731$230,400$173 larger · more single-family homes
Valdosta, GA 31606 77%1,369$50,303$206,400$173 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · newer homes
Carrabelle, FL 32322 77%1,315$61,955$239,400$205 larger · newer homes
Stantonville, TN 38379 77%995$41,136$170,800$250 cheaper homes ($79K less) · more single-family homes
Gilbert, LA 71336 77%877$45,868$209,800— cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Cartwright, OK 74731 77%563$54,286$158,000$180 cheaper homes ($92K less) · older residents
Eastanollee, GA 30538 76%1,292$51,055$141,500$160 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger
Vaughn, MT 59487 76%841$56,359$229,300$232 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Pangburn, AR 72121 76%805$44,221$175,900$205 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · younger 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.