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 Newport News, VA 23607

Newport News: median income $42,334, home value $171,800, $150/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75215 94%1,187$45,557$190,100$172 Very close on everything we compare
Dallas, TX 75203 89%1,190$46,989$159,900$185 5 min longer commute
Huntsville, AL 35805 88%592$35,385$137,800$142 cheaper homes ($34K less)
El Paso, TX 79930 87%1,742$42,099$135,000$134 cheaper homes ($37K less) · more homeowners
Milwaukee, WI 53218 86%743$45,642$133,400$139 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · more homeowners
North Chicago, IL 60064 86%711$49,195$152,200$156 smaller · younger residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73127 86%1,184$44,925$156,700$145 Very close on everything we compare
Houston, TX 77013 86%1,191$47,060$174,400$118 newer homes
Fort Wayne, IN 46802 85%547$46,854$184,800$150 smaller
Oklahoma City, OK 73139 85%1,181$49,655$176,400$137 more homeowners · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43223 84%412$46,911$131,100$144 cheaper homes ($41K less) · more homeowners
Euclid, OH 44132 84%419$47,969$125,300$128 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · more homeowners
New Orleans, LA 70114 84%922$43,493$206,700$150 pricier homes ($35K more) · older residents
Houston, TX 77012 84%1,196$45,025$162,200$156 9 min longer commute
Daytona Beach, FL 32114 83%601$41,736$199,500$166 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43232 83%404$51,417$172,300$159 larger · newer homes
Indianapolis, IN 46224 83%567$55,986$181,600$147 larger
Tulsa, OK 74146 83%1,079$46,865$145,700$133 cheaper homes ($26K less) · younger residents · newer homes
El Paso, TX 79904 83%1,740$41,841$127,100$142 cheaper homes ($45K less) · more homeowners
Willimantic, CT 06226 82%396$47,162$190,000$186 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, OH 43213 82%404$54,704$211,700$163 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Columbus, OH 43219 82%409$52,094$199,200$163 pricier homes ($27K more) · newer homes
Milwaukee, WI 53209 82%742$48,486$166,700$137 larger · more homeowners
Milwaukee, WI 53216 82%741$46,752$143,400$125 cheaper homes ($28K less) · more homeowners · older homes
Waterbury, CT 06706 81%363$52,242$210,700$188 pricier homes ($39K more)

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.