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 Chesapeake, VA 23324

Chesapeake: median income $57,045, home value $251,800, $193/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jacksonville, FL 32211 97%541$57,021$229,700$179 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Worth, TX 76112 94%1,219$57,724$225,900$159 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77022 94%1,201$52,739$219,200$183 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32277 93%540$61,554$283,000$178 pricier homes ($31K more)
Louisville, KY 40219 93%525$55,720$204,200$167 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Kenner, LA 70062 93%932$51,477$200,300$151 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Fort Worth, TX 76114 93%1,228$62,073$222,600$195 cheaper homes ($29K less)
San Antonio, TX 78213 93%1,378$55,884$216,400$164 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30354 92%507$63,189$273,700$199 smaller
Louisville, KY 40218 92%523$58,811$205,300$147 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Dallas, TX 75224 92%1,199$51,919$239,600$207 older homes
Dallas, TX 75233 92%1,201$49,870$286,500$164 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Fresno, CA 93705 92%2,389$57,003$305,000$254 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Tampa, FL 33610 91%706$54,209$227,400$229 larger · newer homes
Charlotte, NC 28208 90%281$55,431$236,300$231 larger · more renters
Milwaukee, WI 53221 90%750$63,265$219,600$203 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · older residents
Omaha, NE 68134 90%1,103$66,989$222,000$165 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Garland, TX 75042 90%1,185$64,266$240,200$185 larger
East Hartford, CT 06108 89%395$56,663$230,500$205 more apartments and townhomes
Pleasantville, NJ 08232 89%202$53,899$195,000$215 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Marietta, GA 30060 89%506$67,510$316,000$231 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger
Jacksonville, FL 32210 89%551$61,050$225,600$164 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Orlando, FL 32807 89%641$59,971$272,700$238 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, OH 43224 89%426$53,321$170,800$177 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger
Milwaukee, WI 53223 89%759$60,839$203,100$156 cheaper homes ($49K less)

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.