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 Porterville, CA 93258

Porterville: median income $51,319, home value $218,800, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Banner, KY 41603 78%2,000$62,986$202,200$103 more homeowners
Decatur, AR 72722 78%1,366$54,838$230,200$228 larger · older residents
Panama, OK 74951 77%1,365$49,375$124,800$126 cheaper homes ($94K less) · more homeowners
Warm Springs, OR 97761 77%614$57,000$240,000— larger · 7 min shorter commute
Delco, NC 28436 76%2,288$64,297$184,200— cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Ecru, MS 38841 76%1,691$54,007$205,900$155 larger · more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Bridgeport, WA 98813 76%828$49,969$177,000$202 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
West Hamlin, WV 25571 75%2,020$49,201$116,300$140 cheaper homes ($103K less) · more homeowners
Park City, KY 42160 75%1,821$49,364$157,000$155 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · more homeowners
Warner, OK 74469 75%1,326$54,899$127,200$142 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · more homeowners
Corpus Christi, TX 78409 75%1,378$60,089$172,600$129 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · more homeowners
Marion, MS 39342 73%1,745$45,298$187,300— cheaper homes ($32K less) · more apartments and townhomes
New Church, VA 23415 72%2,382$46,836$177,800$206 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · older residents
Guthrie, KY 42234 72%1,765$58,259$165,300$173 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · more homeowners
Newark, AR 72562 72%1,538$55,156$144,600$118 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · more homeowners
Midway, TN 37809 71%1,997$50,192$163,000$180 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · older residents
Oak Grove, KY 42262 71%1,750$51,975$157,000$186 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · younger residents
Niangua, MO 65713 71%1,451$63,750$197,100$128 older residents · more homeowners
Omaha, AR 72662 71%1,435$55,734$252,400$161 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · older residents
Bigfoot, TX 78005 71%1,266$70,559$263,000$218 pricier homes ($44K more) · older residents
Gadsden, AZ 85336 71%340$49,152$226,800— larger · more homeowners
Prescott, WA 99348 71%714$79,167$237,200— higher income ($28K more)
Allenhurst, GA 31301 70%2,151$65,417$181,900$144 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · older residents
Cowan, TN 37318 70%1,845$52,125$177,100$178 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · older residents
Hutchins, TX 75141 70%1,291$48,159$248,900$188 pricier homes ($30K more) · 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.