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 Norfolk, VA 23504

Norfolk: median income $44,659, home value $269,400, $182/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lexington, KY 40504 94%461$46,055$222,600$184 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55103 89%1,040$48,390$257,500$205 smaller · older residents
Columbus, OH 43219 88%421$52,094$199,200$163 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55130 88%1,038$54,130$236,000$170 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30314 87%507$42,089$251,700$191 7 min longer commute
Daytona Beach, FL 32114 87%597$41,736$199,500$166 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Bakersfield, CA 93301 86%2,368$43,561$295,700$209 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller · older residents
Charlotte, NC 28208 85%282$55,431$236,300$231 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · older residents
Tampa, FL 33617 84%706$50,948$296,900$214 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · older residents
Albuquerque, NM 87108 84%1,692$42,724$243,200$193 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · older residents
Fresno, CA 93726 84%2,384$55,771$294,800$240 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Greensboro, NC 27401 83%202$47,972$156,500$177 cheaper homes ($113K less) · less walkable
Columbus, OH 43229 83%425$57,561$228,200$180 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · older residents
Indianapolis, IN 46224 83%578$55,986$181,600$147 cheaper homes ($88K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77092 83%1,207$58,728$242,900$200 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · older residents
Winston-Salem, NC 27101 82%226$44,198$221,000$154 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older residents · less walkable
Milwaukee, WI 53225 82%757$56,545$188,400$163 cheaper homes ($81K less)
North Chicago, IL 60064 82%722$49,195$152,200$156 cheaper homes ($117K less) · smaller
Colorado Springs, CO 80910 82%1,555$61,969$320,300$198 pricier homes ($51K more)
Tampa, FL 33612 81%707$47,199$282,000$255 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Birmingham, AL 35212 81%634$36,633$232,100$188 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · older residents
Lexington, KY 40517 81%457$53,670$216,900$169 cheaper homes ($53K less) · larger
Willimantic, CT 06226 80%399$47,162$190,000$186 cheaper homes ($79K less) · older homes
Trenton, NJ 08618 80%247$50,390$227,000$186 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · older residents
Charlotte, NC 28212 80%275$52,723$266,900$195 larger · 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.