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 Central, SC 29630

Central: median income $55,264, home value $234,500, $173/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bowling Green, OH 43402 91%461$52,426$243,100$166 larger
Lawrence, KS 66046 91%746$65,478$233,700$199 Very close on everything we compare
Hammond, LA 70401 91%534$50,653$211,000$144 Very close on everything we compare
Weatherford, OK 73096 91%899$59,138$248,600$134 5 min shorter commute
Nacogdoches, TX 75965 91%714$55,291$244,500$151 5 min shorter commute
Lubbock, TX 79407 91%1,096$61,509$205,200$150 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Orlando, FL 32826 89%436$64,755$254,300$228 larger
Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 89%289$48,932$197,500$170 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Biloxi, MS 39531 89%467$54,218$211,500$138 older residents
Saint Cloud, MN 56304 89%955$58,148$251,500$147 Very close on everything we compare
Cookeville, TN 38501 88%185$52,145$284,600$199 pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Iowa City, IA 52240 88%671$52,960$242,300$181 larger · 5 min shorter commute
Tampa, FL 33637 87%464$63,323$229,200$200 Very close on everything we compare
Mobile, AL 36609 87%420$49,830$205,300$133 cheaper homes ($29K less) · older residents
Kent, OH 44240 87%449$57,627$226,500$177 larger · older homes
Baton Rouge, LA 70816 87%564$67,353$240,100$137 larger
Huntsville, TX 77340 87%795$48,538$244,000$157 larger
Greensboro, NC 27407 86%188$59,427$223,900$179 larger · older residents
Greenville, NC 27858 86%313$59,713$251,100$162 larger
Fayetteville, NC 28311 86%222$62,170$216,900$151 larger · more single-family homes
Starkville, MS 39759 86%356$46,398$256,900$173 larger
Mount Pleasant, MI 48858 86%621$51,267$170,800$148 cheaper homes ($64K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Charlotte, NC 28213 85%121$58,146$282,900$192 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Statesboro, GA 30458 85%169$52,038$231,300$177 larger · younger residents
Tallahassee, FL 32303 85%307$62,275$228,000$178 larger

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.