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 Lynchburg, VA 24501

Lynchburg: median income $42,222, home value $174,900, $161/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Huntsville, AL 35805 91%455$35,385$137,800$142 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Columbus, OH 43219 89%274$52,094$199,200$163 Very close on everything we compare
Lexington, KY 40504 88%298$46,055$222,600$184 pricier homes ($48K more) · more renters
Rochester, NY 14615 87%412$51,262$137,500$148 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Greensboro, NC 27401 87%95$47,972$156,500$177 Very close on everything we compare
Columbia, SC 29203 87%250$46,054$141,300$148 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Gainesville, FL 32609 87%559$49,406$178,900$187 older residents
North Chicago, IL 60064 87%575$49,195$152,200$156 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Tulsa, OK 74129 87%928$49,677$153,700$143 Very close on everything we compare
Oklahoma City, OK 73139 86%1,030$49,655$176,400$137 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, OH 43232 85%268$51,417$172,300$159 larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73127 85%1,034$44,925$156,700$145 more apartments and townhomes
El Paso, TX 79904 85%1,591$41,841$127,100$142 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Birmingham, AL 35212 84%502$36,633$232,100$188 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller
Dallas, TX 75215 84%1,043$45,557$190,100$172 older residents
El Paso, TX 79930 84%1,594$42,099$135,000$134 cheaper homes ($40K less) · older homes
Daytona Beach, FL 32114 83%574$41,736$199,500$166 larger · more renters
Chattanooga, TN 37406 83%375$44,850$168,000$176 smaller · older residents · more single-family homes
Knoxville, TN 37912 83%283$47,416$210,900$221 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents
Louisville, KY 40218 83%360$58,811$205,300$147 pricier homes ($30K more)
Saint Paul, MN 55130 83%893$54,130$236,000$170 pricier homes ($61K more) · older homes
Sioux Falls, SD 57104 83%1,016$57,688$202,800$167 pricier homes ($28K more)
Wichita, KS 67203 83%996$52,028$143,800$124 cheaper homes ($31K less) · older residents · older homes
Kenner, LA 70062 83%815$51,477$200,300$151 pricier homes ($25K more) · 5 min longer commute
Tulsa, OK 74146 83%927$46,865$145,700$133 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller

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.