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 Hampton, VA 23663

Hampton: median income $54,336, home value $202,300, $191/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Houston, TX 77022 95%1,203$52,739$219,200$183 larger
Tucson, AZ 85714 95%1,988$55,000$203,600$194 Very close on everything we compare
Joliet, IL 60436 92%703$62,961$180,800$182 Very close on everything we compare
Kenner, LA 70062 92%937$51,477$200,300$151 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Worth, TX 76111 92%1,222$60,194$216,400$188 older homes
Houston, TX 77020 92%1,202$50,119$163,300$175 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger
Greenville, SC 29611 90%374$51,565$195,700$181 larger
Jacksonville, FL 32211 90%552$57,021$229,700$179 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Lexington, KY 40505 90%451$58,206$179,200$170 larger
Columbus, OH 43227 90%408$48,159$152,800$155 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Pleasantville, NJ 08232 89%190$53,899$195,000$215 Very close on everything we compare
Panama City, FL 32401 89%716$52,523$230,500$197 pricier homes ($28K more) · older residents
Dayton, OH 45439 89%466$52,035$143,300$150 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Des Moines, IA 50315 89%974$60,590$173,200$187 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger
Kansas City, MO 64117 89%999$59,601$186,900$164 6 min shorter commute
Fort Worth, TX 76114 89%1,227$62,073$222,600$195 larger
Westville, NJ 08093 88%206$64,104$213,200$232 smaller
Savannah, GA 31404 88%437$53,303$215,500$209 larger
Joliet, IL 60432 88%700$64,917$193,700$177 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73159 88%1,187$54,642$159,200$142 cheaper homes ($43K less) · larger
Dallas, TX 75224 88%1,198$51,919$239,600$207 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger
Fort Worth, TX 76103 88%1,220$60,172$205,000$171 younger residents · older homes
San Antonio, TX 78202 88%1,379$47,478$234,700$173 pricier homes ($32K more)
Columbus, OH 43224 87%415$53,321$170,800$177 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Garland, TX 75042 87%1,185$64,266$240,200$185 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger

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.