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 Atlanta, GA 30337

Atlanta: median income $51,388, home value $320,900, $181/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Antonio, TX 78216 86%873$59,110$310,700$173 larger
Fort Worth, TX 76116 85%753$56,187$305,800$193 larger
Nashville, TN 37210 84%215$50,284$355,600$315 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger · younger residents
Tulsa, OK 74136 84%672$51,820$298,100$130 larger
Norfolk, VA 23505 83%513$58,579$326,300$221 larger · older homes
Casselberry, FL 32730 83%391$47,500$318,100$204 smaller · more homeowners
Columbus, OH 43203 83%445$47,572$319,300$169 more walkable · older homes
Henrico, VA 23294 82%476$64,164$294,500$223 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77035 82%704$58,686$283,800$164 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · more homeowners
Portsmouth, VA 23704 81%510$49,583$230,300$175 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger · more homeowners
Winston-Salem, NC 27101 81%294$44,198$221,000$154 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Lexington, KY 40517 81%300$53,670$216,900$169 cheaper homes ($104K less) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85015 81%1,586$54,874$345,000$247 larger
Tampa, FL 33617 80%406$50,948$296,900$214 larger · more homeowners
Lexington, KY 40504 79%304$46,055$222,600$184 cheaper homes ($98K less) · larger · younger residents
Webster, TX 77598 79%689$60,977$240,700$185 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger · newer homes
Bakersfield, CA 93301 79%1,961$43,561$295,700$209 cheaper homes ($25K less) · more walkable
Sacramento, CA 95841 79%2,072$61,054$424,500$289 pricier homes ($104K more) · larger
Madison, TN 37115 78%221$54,566$307,500$220 larger · more homeowners
Columbus, OH 43213 78%447$54,704$211,700$163 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55425 78%904$76,274$339,500$209 Very close on everything we compare
Baton Rouge, LA 70806 78%448$55,642$325,100$172 larger · 5 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Houston, TX 77092 78%698$58,728$242,900$200 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · more homeowners
Tucson, AZ 85716 78%1,533$49,061$324,000$231 larger
Albany, NY 12204 77%853$74,841$244,800$211 cheaper homes ($76K 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.