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 Greensboro, NC 27407

Greensboro: median income $59,427, home value $223,900, $179/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 94%478$62,301$234,000$154 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, MO 65807 94%749$53,870$192,400$162 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Augusta, GA 30909 93%217$71,364$242,400$155 Very close on everything we compare
Johnson City, TN 37604 93%142$52,345$259,600$196 pricier homes ($36K more)
Bloomington, IN 47403 93%425$70,582$239,700$185 smaller
Evansville, IN 47715 93%441$60,897$210,600$152 smaller
Lafayette, LA 70506 93%812$57,379$218,000$135 Very close on everything we compare
Carrollton, GA 30117 92%341$61,842$267,700$173 pricier homes ($44K more)
Columbus, GA 31909 92%377$69,166$221,300$149 Very close on everything we compare
Pensacola, FL 32514 92%570$66,644$259,600$167 pricier homes ($36K more)
Columbus, OH 43228 92%325$61,713$219,900$186 Very close on everything we compare
Baton Rouge, LA 70816 92%752$67,353$240,100$137 Very close on everything we compare
Laredo, TX 78041 92%1,289$61,544$221,300$152 Very close on everything we compare
Jacksonville, FL 32216 91%410$61,821$266,500$181 pricier homes ($43K more) · more walkable
Cookeville, TN 38501 91%317$52,145$284,600$199 pricier homes ($61K more)
Plattsburgh, NY 12901 90%686$60,942$189,400$166 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · older homes
Savannah, GA 31419 90%290$69,635$257,300$178 pricier homes ($33K more)
Johnson City, TN 37601 90%140$50,686$216,200$185 Very close on everything we compare
Kent, OH 44240 90%362$57,627$226,500$177 older homes
Mishawaka, IN 46545 90%517$56,865$177,900$159 cheaper homes ($46K less) · smaller
Alexandria, LA 71303 90%796$67,156$244,200$143 smaller
Las Cruces, NM 88005 90%1,556$54,452$220,800$168 smaller · more homeowners
Tallahassee, FL 32303 89%462$62,275$228,000$178 Very close on everything we compare
Mobile, AL 36608 89%611$61,146$262,200$152 pricier homes ($38K more)
Richmond, KY 40475 89%272$63,050$244,300$178 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.