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 Daytona Beach, FL 32114

Daytona Beach: median income $41,736, home value $199,500, $166/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Norfolk, VA 23504 87%597$44,659$269,400$182 pricier homes ($70K more) · smaller
Houston, TX 77074 86%871$47,810$213,000$141 8 min longer commute
Lexington, KY 40504 85%643$46,055$222,600$184 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, OH 43219 85%756$52,094$199,200$163 more single-family homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73127 84%1,060$44,925$156,700$145 cheaper homes ($43K less) · less walkable
Bakersfield, CA 93301 84%2,245$43,561$295,700$209 pricier homes ($96K more) · smaller
Newport News, VA 23607 83%601$42,334$171,800$150 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller · older homes
Lynchburg, VA 24501 83%574$42,222$174,900$161 smaller · more homeowners
Indianapolis, IN 46224 83%790$55,986$181,600$147 older homes
Charleston, SC 29406 82%265$49,815$229,300$209 pricier homes ($30K more) · 5 min longer commute
Tulsa, OK 74146 82%983$46,865$145,700$133 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
Huntsville, AL 35805 81%501$35,385$137,800$142 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller
Memphis, TN 38115 81%656$45,636$145,400$96 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Columbus, OH 43213 81%751$54,704$211,700$163 older residents
Columbus, OH 43232 81%748$51,417$172,300$159 cheaper homes ($27K less) · less walkable
Columbia, SC 29210 80%335$50,871$194,400$118 less walkable
Huntsville, AL 35816 80%503$40,242$128,900$128 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller
North Chicago, IL 60064 80%983$49,195$152,200$156 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · older homes
Dallas, TX 75203 80%965$46,989$159,900$185 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Houston, TX 77091 80%867$35,432$247,500$182 pricier homes ($48K more) · 9 min longer commute
Richmond, VA 23224 79%609$50,475$207,500$217 6 min longer commute · older homes
Portsmouth, VA 23704 79%594$49,583$230,300$175 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller · older residents
Winston-Salem, NC 27101 79%479$44,198$221,000$154 smaller · less walkable
Milwaukee, WI 53225 79%1,037$56,545$188,400$163 older homes
Lincoln, NE 68504 79%1,191$56,213$184,500$158 smaller

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.