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 Earp, CA 92242

Earp: median income $37,500, home value $128,100, $107/sq ft, 13-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Arenas Valley, NM 88022 88%366$37,147$173,100— pricier homes ($45K more)
Garysburg, NC 27831 73%2,065$36,136$87,300— cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · younger residents
Magdalena, NM 87825 73%405$30,596$104,000— 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Worthville, KY 41098 72%1,649$33,125$86,300$105 cheaper homes ($42K less) · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Williamsburg, NM 87942 72%411$42,308$114,800— 13 min longer commute
Georgetown, GA 39854 71%1,694$41,536$102,700$166 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · 11 min longer commute
Elephant Butte, NM 87935 69%413$51,033$197,700$166 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · more walkable
Weippe, ID 83553 68%848$39,191$204,700$167 pricier homes ($77K more) · 9 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Van Buren, ME 04785 66%2,548$41,528$114,200$126 larger · younger residents · more renters
Castalia, NC 27816 66%2,041$33,718$141,700$148 larger · 13 min longer commute · more renters
Natural Bridge Station, VA 24579 65%1,951$45,944$165,600$120 pricier homes ($38K more) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Bouse, AZ 85325 64%23$47,691$139,700— older residents · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners
Merry Hill, NC 27957 63%2,113$36,875$140,100$105 more renters · more single-family homes
Stoutland, MO 65567 63%1,242$55,050$147,600$192 7 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Krotz Springs, LA 70750 62%1,338$38,466$96,100$133 cheaper homes ($32K less) · younger residents · 10 min longer commute
Nucla, CO 81424 61%429$39,960$206,000— pricier homes ($78K more) · more renters · more single-family homes
Gainesville, MO 65655 60%1,243$37,337$176,000$145 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Argillite, KY 41121 59%1,770$51,314$134,100$178 younger residents · 6 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Hermitage, MO 65668 59%1,200$38,449$138,400$145 15 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Dolan Springs, AZ 86441 59%97$25,098$125,700$140 13 min shorter commute
Lee, FL 32059 58%1,824$55,909$109,400$138 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Eastanollee, GA 30538 57%1,765$51,055$141,500$160 larger · younger residents · 7 min longer commute
Waterford, MS 38685 57%1,406$41,210$124,100$158 more homeowners · more single-family homes
Littlefield, AZ 86432 57%189$48,627$249,800— pricier homes ($122K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Lewisville, AR 71845 56%1,190$33,672$90,200— cheaper homes ($38K less) · younger residents · 9 min longer commute

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.