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 Arvin, CA 93203

Arvin: median income $49,217, home value $264,900, $233/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Laredo, TX 78043 80%1,268$54,396$170,600$160 cheaper homes ($94K less) · larger
Sunnyside, WA 98944 80%771$64,276$260,000$225 older homes
Fort Pierce, FL 34947 79%2,318$51,811$279,000$210 smaller · older residents
Grand Prairie, TX 75051 79%1,260$58,245$227,400$190 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · older residents
Grandview, WA 98930 79%766$64,583$303,500$251 pricier homes ($39K more) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Havelock, NC 28532 78%2,355$60,605$218,000$172 cheaper homes ($47K less) · older residents
Oak Grove, KY 42262 78%1,752$51,975$157,000$186 cheaper homes ($108K less) · smaller · more renters
Houston, TX 77048 77%1,419$56,747$210,300$177 cheaper homes ($55K less) · older residents
San Luis, AZ 85349 77%298$60,330$223,200$203 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · older residents
Yakima, WA 98901 76%793$57,392$279,600$217 larger · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Wapato, WA 98951 76%782$63,356$230,400$184 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · older residents
Othello, WA 99344 76%805$64,888$281,900$234 more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Lagrange, GA 30241 75%1,934$49,053$201,800$150 cheaper homes ($63K less) · older residents
Commerce, GA 30529 75%2,000$62,168$242,500$186 smaller · older residents
Hinesville, GA 31313 75%2,144$60,233$196,100$152 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Hutchins, TX 75141 75%1,278$48,159$248,900$188 smaller · 8 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Slippery Rock, PA 16057 74%2,129$58,288$242,900$181 older homes
Horn Lake, MS 38637 74%1,622$53,311$171,400$145 cheaper homes ($94K less) · older residents
Cleveland, TN 37311 73%1,909$47,153$226,800$195 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older residents · older homes
Bowling Green, KY 42101 73%1,803$48,217$207,200$170 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Dallas, TX 75212 73%1,267$59,750$241,700$216 older residents · more walkable
Gadsden, AZ 85336 73%295$49,152$226,800— cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · older residents
Toppenish, WA 98948 73%776$65,759$232,200$200 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · older homes
Arlington, TX 76014 72%1,256$60,333$234,600$166 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · older residents
Bryan, TX 77803 72%1,336$52,274$153,400$169 cheaper homes ($112K less) · larger · older residents

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.