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 Mcdonough, GA 30253

Mcdonough: median income $81,892, home value $315,800, $144/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Grand Prairie, TX 75052 94%747$89,301$307,100$170 larger
Mobile, AL 36695 93%307$76,040$254,100$151 cheaper homes ($62K less)
Waxahachie, TX 75165 93%739$86,391$341,600$176 pricier homes ($26K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77064 92%713$81,658$253,100$148 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Houston, TX 77084 92%721$80,575$248,300$138 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Spring, TX 77388 92%705$102,323$288,300$132 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Humble, TX 77396 92%696$78,169$240,600$145 cheaper homes ($75K less)
New Braunfels, TX 78130 92%858$83,064$323,200$159 larger · 5 min shorter commute
San Antonio, TX 78245 92%900$90,029$260,300$144 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Charlotte, NC 28215 91%231$71,162$315,000$202 Very close on everything we compare
Summerville, SC 29485 91%232$82,987$341,600$183 pricier homes ($26K more)
Crestview, FL 32536 91%234$78,119$305,800$169 smaller
Greenwood, IN 46143 91%439$91,496$318,300$159 5 min shorter commute
Belton, TX 76513 91%795$80,661$289,600$175 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77044 91%695$95,000$294,200$137 Very close on everything we compare
Katy, TX 77449 91%725$87,808$255,900$142 cheaper homes ($60K less) · larger
Dickinson, TX 77539 91%698$89,111$264,800$161 cheaper homes ($51K less)
Clayton, NC 27520 90%358$86,322$320,900$187 Very close on everything we compare
Columbia, SC 29229 90%193$74,043$247,400$147 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Orange Park, FL 32065 90%268$97,455$299,400$171 smaller
Denham Springs, LA 70726 90%446$78,621$228,200$151 cheaper homes ($88K less)
Killeen, TX 76542 90%807$74,055$244,000$142 cheaper homes ($72K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Bastrop, TX 78602 90%804$89,968$332,600$193 smaller
Concord, NC 28025 89%246$79,545$306,800$191 older homes
Summerville, SC 29483 89%232$85,750$333,300$189 more homeowners

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.