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 Union City, GA 30291

Union City: median income $48,184, home value $222,000, $139/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charlotte, NC 28213 88%246$58,146$282,900$192 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
Dallas, TX 75236 88%718$49,715$255,800$179 pricier homes ($34K more)
Houston, TX 77014 88%687$55,589$228,600$117 Very close on everything we compare
Biloxi, MS 39531 86%339$54,218$211,500$138 older homes
Charleston, SC 29406 85%265$49,815$229,300$209 Very close on everything we compare
Huntsville, TX 77340 85%676$48,538$244,000$157 less walkable
Fort Myers, FL 33916 84%506$52,586$266,500$177 pricier homes ($45K more)
Mobile, AL 36609 84%292$49,830$205,300$133 older homes
Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 83%171$48,932$197,500$170 older homes
Hammond, LA 70401 83%407$50,653$211,000$144 less walkable · older homes
Greenville, NC 27834 82%430$48,935$174,500$154 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Central, SC 29630 82%128$55,264$234,500$173 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46214 82%440$59,178$201,800$141 older homes
Indianapolis, IN 46254 81%443$60,287$186,300$148 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77090 81%685$50,903$251,600$120 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Houston, TX 77099 81%703$49,396$198,900$122 larger · older homes
Houston, TX 77082 80%704$62,455$243,300$139 larger · more walkable
Pasadena, TX 77504 80%682$51,478$227,400$146 older homes
Charlotte, NC 28212 79%244$52,723$266,900$195 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger · older homes
Killeen, TX 76543 79%784$48,564$154,000$122 cheaper homes ($68K less) · older homes
Orlando, FL 32811 78%395$54,082$218,900$177 larger · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
Tampa, FL 33637 78%405$63,323$229,200$200 older homes
Columbus, OH 43228 78%448$61,713$219,900$186 larger · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Saint Cloud, MN 56304 78%970$58,148$251,500$147 pricier homes ($30K more) · older homes
Houston, TX 77051 78%691$37,415$185,500$175 cheaper homes ($37K less)

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.