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 Portales, NM 88130

Portales: median income $52,434, home value $135,000, $112/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Laurel, MS 39440 94%840$46,947$125,400$111 Very close on everything we compare
Marshall, MO 65340 91%656$58,118$156,100$129 Very close on everything we compare
Emporia, KS 66801 91%494$56,794$152,700$117 larger
Paris, TX 75460 91%448$46,473$142,600$120 older residents
Magnolia, AR 71753 90%583$50,504$167,900$79 pricier homes ($33K more)
Miami, OK 74354 90%511$50,818$127,600$108 Very close on everything we compare
Uvalde, TX 78801 90%401$54,161$152,700$137 Very close on everything we compare
Martin, TN 38237 89%830$51,670$200,900$138 pricier homes ($66K more)
Muncie, IN 47303 89%1,070$47,674$118,200$117 6 min longer commute
Charleston, IL 61920 89%914$52,429$149,200$104 Very close on everything we compare
Liberal, KS 67901 89%240$64,783$133,200— Very close on everything we compare
Blytheville, AR 72315 89%768$52,259$134,600$89 older residents
Elk City, OK 73644 89%238$53,180$155,100$111 older residents
Guymon, OK 73942 89%203$61,522$184,500$142 pricier homes ($50K more)
Marshall, TX 75670 89%530$42,386$112,300$117 Very close on everything we compare
Nacogdoches, TX 75964 89%530$56,762$130,900$120 6 min longer commute
Kingsville, TX 78363 89%569$60,574$163,300$126 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Plainview, TX 79072 89%92$47,255$114,000$96 Very close on everything we compare
Pittsburg, KS 66762 88%532$50,511$145,300$110 Very close on everything we compare
Arkadelphia, AR 71923 88%587$56,089$170,600$108 pricier homes ($36K more) · 6 min longer commute
Russellville, AR 72801 88%584$47,830$163,700$129 pricier homes ($29K more) · more renters
Lawton, OK 73505 88%280$58,272$158,200$109 larger
Idabel, OK 74745 88%489$47,134$145,400$110 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Wichita Falls, TX 76302 88%278$59,590$165,800$133 pricier homes ($31K more) · older residents
Wichita Falls, TX 76306 88%276$46,957$111,600$131 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.