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 Decatur, GA 30030

Decatur: median income $126,830, home value $631,500, $328/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75214 89%722$132,313$777,100$431 pricier homes ($146K more)
Charlotte, NC 28211 88%222$132,917$774,900$360 pricier homes ($143K more)
Tampa, FL 33609 88%416$115,844$605,600$361 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Columbia, MD 21044 87%557$135,057$566,500$250 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Dallas, TX 75244 87%726$120,286$617,800$322 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Gaithersburg, MD 20878 86%538$144,313$715,800$302 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger
Lake Oswego, OR 97035 86%2,174$130,603$837,100$364 pricier homes ($206K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Portland, OR 97225 86%2,177$114,598$751,700$319 pricier homes ($120K more)
Plano, TX 75093 85%722$124,563$670,500$259 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger · newer homes
Dallas, TX 75209 85%726$134,707$864,200$391 pricier homes ($233K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Lafayette, CO 80026 85%1,224$120,187$705,600$310 pricier homes ($74K more) · newer homes
Stamford, CT 06905 84%776$136,757$618,400$413 smaller · older homes
Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 84%689$125,514$428,000$294 cheaper homes ($204K less)
Falls Church, VA 22043 84%531$145,881$881,600$456 pricier homes ($250K more)
Englewood, CO 80111 84%1,206$135,995$916,500$314 pricier homes ($285K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 83%657$144,471$803,100$388 pricier homes ($172K more) · older homes
Reston, VA 20191 83%525$151,185$641,800$350 more apartments and townhomes
Dallas, TX 75230 83%723$110,956$931,500$359 pricier homes ($300K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77024 83%714$136,149$1,127,500$414 pricier homes ($496K more)
Annapolis, MD 21401 82%561$123,381$601,400$331 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older residents
Fairfax, VA 22030 82%523$139,831$740,400$347 pricier homes ($109K more) · larger · younger residents
Fairfax, VA 22033 82%522$143,454$648,800$355 more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Dallas, TX 75248 82%723$100,414$576,100$254 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($55K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77079 82%719$101,995$679,900$339 pricier homes ($48K more) · younger residents · more renters
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 81%660$149,232$632,000$327 smaller · older homes

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.