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 Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Winston-Salem: median income $44,198, home value $221,000, $154/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lexington, KY 40504 94%273$46,055$222,600$184 Very close on everything we compare
Columbia, SC 29210 89%151$50,871$194,400$118 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger
Tulsa, OK 74136 87%877$51,820$298,100$130 pricier homes ($77K more)
Lexington, KY 40517 85%268$53,670$216,900$169 larger · 7 min longer commute
Albuquerque, NM 87108 85%1,478$42,724$243,200$193 larger · more walkable
Baton Rouge, LA 70806 83%741$55,642$325,100$172 pricier homes ($104K more)
Norfolk, VA 23504 82%226$44,659$269,400$182 pricier homes ($48K more) · younger residents · more walkable
Lynchburg, VA 24501 81%105$42,222$174,900$161 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more homeowners
Atlanta, GA 30337 81%294$51,388$320,900$181 pricier homes ($100K more) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Tallahassee, FL 32301 81%456$50,942$226,700$188 Very close on everything we compare
Biloxi, MS 39531 81%640$54,218$211,500$138 7 min longer commute · newer homes
Lincoln, NE 68504 81%945$56,213$184,500$158 cheaper homes ($37K less) · younger residents · more walkable
Florence, AL 35630 80%427$46,304$174,800$132 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Mobile, AL 36609 80%592$49,830$205,300$133 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Columbus, OH 43213 80%303$54,704$211,700$163 larger · 5 min longer commute
Columbus, OH 43229 80%313$57,561$228,200$180 larger
Daytona Beach, FL 32114 79%479$41,736$199,500$166 larger · more walkable
Columbus, OH 43219 79%308$52,094$199,200$163 more single-family homes
Columbus, OH 43232 79%301$51,417$172,300$159 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Temple, TX 76504 79%1,044$52,803$174,100$150 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Corpus Christi, TX 78412 79%1,158$61,215$197,500$147 larger · more homeowners
Willimantic, CT 06226 78%579$47,162$190,000$186 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Gainesville, FL 32609 78%459$49,406$178,900$187 cheaper homes ($42K less) · more homeowners
Bowling Green, OH 43402 78%409$52,426$243,100$166 younger residents · less walkable
Milwaukee, WI 53225 78%638$56,545$188,400$163 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 6 min longer commute

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.