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 Mesquite, NV 89027

Mesquite: median income $71,574, home value $362,400, $229/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Little River, SC 29566 93%1,998$64,878$308,700$191 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Myrtle Beach, SC 29575 88%1,985$71,447$305,700$235 cheaper homes ($57K less) · older homes
Payson, AZ 85541 88%240$66,383$361,200$298 more single-family homes
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 87%1,982$70,691$340,400$228 larger
Dewey, AZ 86327 86%189$71,512$392,400$261 pricier homes ($30K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Fort Mohave, AZ 86426 85%127$64,551$294,500$219 cheaper homes ($68K less) · more single-family homes
Brookings, OR 97415 85%651$69,152$394,800$316 pricier homes ($32K more) · older homes
Vero Beach, FL 32966 84%2,054$66,771$294,200$203 cheaper homes ($68K less) · 6 min longer commute
Punta Gorda, FL 33955 83%1,999$76,943$376,200$188 smaller · 8 min longer commute · more homeowners
Lake Havasu City, AZ 86404 83%156$72,910$461,600$319 pricier homes ($99K more) · more single-family homes
Beaufort, NC 28516 80%2,093$66,057$315,400$270 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · older homes
Vero Beach, FL 32967 80%2,054$78,058$423,500$243 pricier homes ($61K more) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Punta Gorda, FL 33980 80%1,991$63,591$241,500$175 cheaper homes ($121K less) · 5 min longer commute
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582 79%1,998$71,723$413,800$273 pricier homes ($51K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Osage Beach, MO 65065 79%1,178$60,785$371,600$263 smaller · older homes
Florence, OR 97439 79%721$61,982$410,900$307 pricier homes ($49K more) · older homes
Calabash, NC 28467 78%2,002$75,341$308,600$184 cheaper homes ($54K less) · older residents · more single-family homes
Longs, SC 29568 78%1,990$62,653$254,900$181 cheaper homes ($108K less) · younger residents
Blairsville, GA 30512 78%1,686$66,642$313,300$205 cheaper homes ($49K less) · more single-family homes
Sebring, FL 33872 78%2,004$69,578$210,000$173 cheaper homes ($152K less)
Crystal River, FL 34429 78%1,897$55,395$253,200$167 cheaper homes ($109K less) · smaller · older homes
Lakeside, AZ 85929 78%296$62,752$306,900$290 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · younger residents
Prescott, AZ 86301 78%181$72,652$515,400$313 pricier homes ($153K more)
Ormond Beach, FL 32174 77%1,972$71,011$356,800$199 larger · older homes
Port Saint Joe, FL 32456 77%1,726$64,681$378,500$285 smaller · more single-family homes

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.