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 Lexington, VA 24450

Lexington: median income $76,587, home value $305,100, $225/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Birmingham, AL 35210 96%499$73,061$255,800$191 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Duluth, MN 55811 94%899$79,804$321,000$228 larger
Spartanburg, SC 29302 92%240$80,819$285,400$156 Very close on everything we compare
Maumee, OH 43537 92%344$82,752$253,300$172 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Portage, MI 49002 92%444$73,647$246,400$174 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Pella, IA 50219 92%758$86,807$301,400$239 5 min shorter commute
Port Washington, WI 53074 92%587$79,423$296,600$233 Very close on everything we compare
Greenville, SC 29609 91%259$65,342$339,500$226 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Chattanooga, TN 37415 91%372$70,972$285,000$216 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40242 91%336$75,417$299,600$174 smaller · more walkable
Canton, OH 44718 91%236$88,113$297,900$191 older residents
Grand Rapids, MI 49534 91%490$81,657$306,700$207 newer homes
Indianola, IA 50125 91%790$84,848$258,900$219 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Sheboygan, WI 53083 91%601$75,203$244,800$188 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Omaha, NE 68144 91%918$83,576$269,600$171 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Edinboro, PA 16412 90%285$71,590$246,200$186 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Danville, PA 17821 90%267$76,971$249,500$164 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Pensacola, FL 32504 90%670$72,672$275,800$179 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Chattanooga, TN 37416 90%368$70,705$253,100$193 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Haslett, MI 48840 90%431$73,408$280,900$184 Very close on everything we compare
Kenosha, WI 53142 90%553$88,960$268,100$202 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Neenah, WI 54956 90%645$85,869$256,900$191 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger
Lees Summit, MO 64063 90%810$80,459$263,000$174 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Shawnee, KS 66203 90%830$75,869$254,900$222 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Metairie, LA 70006 90%816$76,505$344,800$167 pricier homes ($40K 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.