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 Mecca, CA 92254

Mecca: median income $48,272, home value $215,800, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hutchins, TX 75141 82%1,118$48,159$248,900$188 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · more renters
Boardman, OR 97818 82%871$61,523$275,700$226 pricier homes ($60K more) · smaller
Jesup, GA 31545 80%1,983$48,302$160,000$142 cheaper homes ($56K less) · less walkable
San Antonio, TX 78224 80%1,069$59,891$162,200$141 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Ridgeland, SC 29936 79%2,022$48,986$216,800$213 older residents · less walkable
Clifton, CO 81520 79%569$50,283$249,600$261 pricier homes ($34K more) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Fort Wayne, IN 46816 78%1,766$45,343$157,700$153 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · older homes
Houston, TX 77086 78%1,230$58,200$208,800$136 larger · more single-family homes
San Antonio, TX 78219 78%1,077$52,094$162,000$133 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · older homes
Wauchula, FL 33873 77%2,068$54,444$180,100$157 cheaper homes ($36K less) · less walkable
Houston, TX 77039 77%1,239$47,119$165,600$137 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · older homes
Houston, TX 77067 77%1,231$52,032$186,200$113 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · more renters
Chalmette, LA 70043 76%1,547$55,068$214,700$136 larger · more single-family homes · older homes
Bacliff, TX 77518 76%1,267$51,458$201,500$143 more single-family homes
Bloomfield, NM 87413 76%504$49,869$176,000$177 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Sunland Park, NM 88063 76%560$41,975$115,500$169 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Houston, TX 77038 75%1,233$57,232$194,200$124 larger · more single-family homes
Mabton, WA 98935 75%900$61,316$225,500$232 smaller · younger residents · more single-family homes
Arcadia, FL 34266 74%2,073$50,972$171,200$184 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger · older residents
Indiantown, FL 34956 74%2,156$64,526$217,000$225 less walkable
Surprise, AZ 85378 74%212$56,444$274,500$223 pricier homes ($59K more) · older residents
Morrow, GA 30260 73%1,817$52,666$205,700$136 larger · more renters · older homes
Alto, GA 30510 73%1,850$52,019$207,800$182 less walkable
Clewiston, FL 33440 73%2,137$56,341$208,000$215 larger · older residents · less walkable
Dallas, TX 75253 73%1,124$60,874$165,000$164 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · 5 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.