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 23523

Norfolk: median income $35,533, home value $224,600, $153/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75215 84%1,194$45,557$190,100$172 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Bakersfield, CA 93301 82%2,368$43,561$295,700$209 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger
Gretna, LA 70053 81%926$39,950$241,300$148 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Dallas, TX 75203 81%1,196$46,989$159,900$185 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger
Huntsville, AL 35805 80%598$35,385$137,800$142 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger
Fresno, CA 93701 80%2,386$32,768$246,400$172 more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Houston, TX 77012 79%1,200$45,025$162,200$156 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Houston, TX 77013 79%1,195$47,060$174,400$118 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Pahokee, FL 33476 78%738$36,652$154,900$155 cheaper homes ($70K less) · less walkable
North Chicago, IL 60064 78%724$49,195$152,200$156 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77091 78%1,204$35,432$247,500$182 larger · newer homes
Fort Pierce, FL 34950 77%690$30,400$213,200$131 larger · older residents · less walkable
Oklahoma City, OK 73139 77%1,189$49,655$176,400$137 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · more homeowners
Houston, TX 77061 77%1,202$45,115$224,400$95 larger
Daytona Beach, FL 32114 76%595$41,736$199,500$166 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger · newer homes
Tampa, FL 33605 76%710$36,975$264,400$239 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger · older residents
Birmingham, AL 35212 76%633$36,633$232,100$188 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73127 76%1,193$44,925$156,700$145 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Hartford, CT 06112 75%392$44,460$208,000$144 larger · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Savannah, GA 31415 75%429$37,109$149,700$167 cheaper homes ($75K less) · more single-family homes
Fort Wayne, IN 46802 75%560$46,854$184,800$150 cheaper homes ($40K less) · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
New Orleans, LA 70114 75%924$43,493$206,700$150 larger · older residents
New Orleans, LA 70127 75%918$40,765$204,700$113 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Tulsa, OK 74146 75%1,087$46,865$145,700$133 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
San Antonio, TX 78203 75%1,378$35,536$158,000$191 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · more single-family homes

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.