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 Hobbs, NM 88242

Hobbs: median income $90,000, home value $260,200, $198/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Crittenden, KY 41030 95%1,116$83,488$248,300$195 Very close on everything we compare
Mount Airy, GA 30563 91%1,137$84,561$240,500$184 older residents
Thatcher, AZ 85552 91%382$88,454$290,900$194 pricier homes ($31K more)
Moxee, WA 98936 91%1,313$99,280$364,700$205 pricier homes ($105K more)
Smiths Station, AL 36877 90%1,049$78,103$224,200$172 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Wayland, MI 49348 90%1,172$82,512$275,400$206 larger · older residents
Brusly, LA 70719 90%720$105,522$233,100$163 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Mount Vernon, TX 75457 90%461$83,916$249,800$178 Very close on everything we compare
Pikeville, NC 27863 89%1,449$77,933$212,200$165 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Graniteville, SC 29829 89%1,233$84,228$246,900$154 Very close on everything we compare
Macclenny, FL 32063 89%1,248$75,683$260,800$191 larger
Coopersville, MI 49404 89%1,171$86,096$295,100$195 pricier homes ($35K more)
Rapid City, SD 57703 89%776$83,739$277,100$222 larger · older residents
Cortland, IL 60112 89%1,011$72,831$229,900$183 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Strafford, MO 65757 89%647$85,243$235,500$185 more single-family homes
Sulphur, LA 70665 89%600$86,573$236,800$138 larger
Inola, OK 74036 89%492$79,824$215,900$173 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Shallowater, TX 79363 89%91$96,128$210,100$191 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Roosevelt, UT 84066 89%642$79,494$286,800$182 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Etters, PA 17319 88%1,543$99,778$236,900$179 older residents
Fort Pierce, FL 34945 88%1,404$87,568$345,700$198 pricier homes ($86K more) · older residents
Moundville, AL 35474 88%903$87,933$206,000$145 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Bristol, IN 46507 88%1,131$82,683$245,400$162 Very close on everything we compare
Middlebury, IN 46540 88%1,135$96,615$313,700$159 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Pulaski, WI 54162 88%1,143$80,594$265,000$248 Very close on everything we compare

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.