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 Elephant Butte, NM 87935

Elephant Butte: median income $51,033, home value $197,700, $166/sq ft, 12-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Littlefield, AZ 86432 81%457$48,627$249,800— pricier homes ($52K more) · 7 min longer commute
Weldon, CA 93283 78%652$48,053$180,600$127 7 min longer commute · older homes
Crystal River, FL 34429 75%1,481$55,395$253,200$167 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Arcadia, FL 34269 70%1,562$58,636$197,900$167 larger · 11 min longer commute · more homeowners
Stoutland, MO 65567 69%886$55,050$147,600$192 cheaper homes ($50K less) · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Earp, CA 92242 69%413$37,500$128,100$107 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller · less walkable
Bodfish, CA 93205 69%662$39,590$143,100$183 cheaper homes ($55K less) · younger residents · 8 min longer commute
Cartwright, OK 74731 66%615$54,286$158,000$180 cheaper homes ($40K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Kimberling City, MO 65686 65%815$58,363$257,300$197 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · 11 min longer commute
Zellwood, FL 32798 64%1,547$63,178$175,500$186 13 min longer commute · more homeowners
Punta Gorda, FL 33980 64%1,562$63,591$241,500$175 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · 11 min longer commute
Lakeview, AR 72642 63%860$68,810$224,100$138 pricier homes ($26K more) · 10 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Republic, WA 99166 63%1,222$56,676$286,000$233 pricier homes ($88K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Canadian, OK 74425 62%676$63,405$154,700$155 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · younger residents
Dove Creek, CO 81324 62%329$71,630$223,100— pricier homes ($25K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Mc Gregor, IA 52157 61%1,101$52,625$193,500$130 younger residents · 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Colebrook, NH 03576 60%2,060$52,682$214,900$204 younger residents · 10 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Lee, FL 32059 60%1,416$55,909$109,400$138 cheaper homes ($88K less) · younger residents · 6 min longer commute
Sebastian, FL 32976 60%1,625$46,712$175,400$210 larger · 12 min longer commute · more homeowners
Homosassa, FL 34448 60%1,488$45,916$169,900$186 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · younger residents
Counce, TN 38326 60%1,088$49,026$191,900$173 10 min longer commute · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Argillite, KY 41121 60%1,410$51,314$134,100$178 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · younger residents
Laughlin, NV 89029 60%444$46,294$290,400$163 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · younger residents
New Paris, PA 15554 59%1,648$50,500$273,000$149 pricier homes ($75K more) · younger residents · 12 min longer commute
Crumpler, NC 28617 59%1,477$62,204$244,600$271 pricier homes ($47K more) · younger residents · 12 min longer 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.