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 Ruidoso Downs, NM 88346

Ruidoso Downs: median income $33,594, home value $159,700, $106/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
West Wendover, NV 89883 77%693$48,645$141,900$156 Very close on everything we compare
Needles, CA 92363 72%527$40,068$163,900$110 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Mount Hope, WV 25880 71%1,398$36,264$112,400$131 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Alamo, GA 30411 71%1,322$30,238$103,900$112 cheaper homes ($56K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Paintsville, KY 41240 71%1,311$38,041$148,000$106 larger · older residents · 5 min longer commute
Perry, FL 32347 70%1,304$44,183$112,400$121 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Cumberland Gap, TN 37724 70%1,254$31,941$149,400$113 8 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Tunica, MS 38676 69%873$33,943$184,400$119 larger · 9 min longer commute · more renters
Lake Isabella, CA 93240 69%752$31,267$221,000$170 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Elliston, VA 24087 67%1,447$41,204$155,100$172 8 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Gallion, AL 36742 67%1,035$31,231$142,000— younger residents · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Cape Girardeau, MO 63703 67%942$38,695$122,200$99 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · more renters
Sulligent, AL 35586 66%1,000$38,286$115,300$89 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Daleville, AL 36322 65%1,164$47,276$124,700$110 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · older residents
Craigsville, WV 26205 64%1,431$37,378$81,000— cheaper homes ($79K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Pascagoula, MS 39581 64%1,018$37,927$153,100$91 larger · younger residents · more renters
Harlan, KY 40831 64%1,274$35,404$89,100$68 cheaper homes ($71K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Middlesboro, KY 40965 64%1,252$28,685$95,200$128 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Monticello, AR 71655 64%792$43,346$138,300$97 larger · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Norton, VA 24273 63%1,315$41,978$109,300$89 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · 10 min longer commute
Moultrie, GA 31788 62%1,285$47,325$132,300$152 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Vernon, AL 35592 62%1,003$45,526$119,900$102 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older residents · 10 min longer commute
South Hutchinson, KS 67505 62%534$50,882$151,300— more single-family homes
Ola, AR 72853 62%713$35,262$98,100$108 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller · older residents
May, TX 76857 62%394$51,152$142,600$132 smaller · 7 min longer commute · less walkable

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.