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.

Reset

Towns most like Lynchburg, VA 24503

Lynchburg: median income $89,137, home value $347,500, $168/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lafayette, LA 70503 93%890$94,688$341,300$144 Very close on everything we compare
Gainesville, FL 32605 92%566$86,714$284,900$205 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Columbia, SC 29206 91%255$91,847$369,500$215 Very close on everything we compare
Huntsville, AL 35801 91%452$105,585$422,300$205 pricier homes ($75K more)
Cincinnati, OH 45230 91%302$89,516$262,100$184 cheaper homes ($85K less) · 5 min longer commute
Rochester, MN 55906 91%829$93,685$377,800$173 pricier homes ($30K more)
Louisville, KY 40223 90%351$96,607$362,500$179 Very close on everything we compare
Bettendorf, IA 52722 89%665$101,546$311,500$188 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Greensboro, NC 27408 88%98$83,862$374,700$206 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents
Lexington, KY 40503 88%293$76,482$296,800$212 cheaper homes ($51K less) · more renters
Grand Rapids, MI 49546 88%506$99,343$417,900$213 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger
Omaha, NE 68144 88%939$83,576$269,600$171 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Memphis, TN 38117 87%617$85,633$311,800$172 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more walkable · older homes
Indianapolis, IN 46256 87%404$93,847$318,200$163 cheaper homes ($29K less) · 6 min longer commute · newer homes
Grand Rapids, MI 49525 87%512$94,037$321,100$228 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Middlebury, VT 05753 86%552$91,659$416,900$258 pricier homes ($69K more) · smaller
Columbus, OH 43085 86%276$112,517$407,100$227 pricier homes ($60K more)
Portage, MI 49024 86%473$91,105$267,400$165 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger
Saint Joseph, MI 49085 86%501$104,969$304,600$200 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents
Omaha, NE 68124 86%936$98,750$301,400$185 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more renters
Oklahoma City, OK 73116 86%1,026$81,226$321,600$199 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · more walkable
Charleston, WV 25314 85%148$94,556$265,900$142 cheaper homes ($82K less) · less walkable
Louisville, KY 40242 85%353$75,417$299,600$174 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Ft Mitchell, KY 41017 85%311$97,274$293,500$201 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger
Shawnee, KS 66216 85%848$111,744$353,300$182 Very close on everything we compare

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.