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.

Reset

Towns most like Las Cruces, NM 88012

Las Cruces: median income $69,052, home value $249,500, $189/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Boiling Springs, SC 29316 91%1,430$74,735$244,900$151 Very close on everything we compare
Fountain Inn, SC 29644 91%1,415$70,301$257,400$157 Very close on everything we compare
Ozark, MO 65721 91%828$77,507$281,300$179 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents
Winterville, NC 28590 90%1,688$83,880$266,400$159 Very close on everything we compare
Duncan, SC 29334 90%1,421$81,413$295,100$153 pricier homes ($46K more) · smaller
Valdosta, GA 31605 90%1,384$79,156$226,000$162 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Wayne, IN 46818 90%1,326$81,066$235,100$179 smaller
Belton, TX 76513 90%556$80,661$289,600$175 pricier homes ($40K more)
Brownsville, TX 78526 90%723$70,565$185,000$171 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Fayetteville, NC 28306 89%1,602$67,544$232,500$158 Very close on everything we compare
Dahlonega, GA 30533 89%1,316$74,035$301,200$204 pricier homes ($52K more) · older residents
Georgetown, KY 40324 89%1,306$85,110$289,100$184 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Bryant, AR 72022 89%833$80,920$216,200$151 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Killeen, TX 76542 89%544$74,055$244,000$142 larger
Amarillo, TX 79118 89%332$87,810$234,500$163 Very close on everything we compare
Tucson, AZ 85756 89%243$72,490$233,500$177 Very close on everything we compare
Raeford, NC 28376 88%1,586$66,471$232,600$157 6 min longer commute
Hubert, NC 28539 88%1,701$66,976$230,200$180 smaller
Grovetown, GA 30813 88%1,422$86,923$287,600$153 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Alexander, AR 72002 88%834$85,502$220,000$158 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Conway, AR 72032 88%841$64,695$209,800$148 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more renters
Jonesboro, AR 72404 88%940$70,269$247,100$149 older residents · more renters
Siloam Springs, AR 72761 88%740$76,122$236,600$177 older homes
Temple, TX 76502 88%560$82,088$272,500$157 larger · more renters
Mcallen, TX 78504 88%674$81,905$218,900$162 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger

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.