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.

Reset

Towns most like Jacksonville, FL 32206

Jacksonville: median income $39,242, home value $173,400, $134/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
El Paso, TX 79930 89%1,468$42,099$135,000$134 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45216 87%632$44,099$155,300$120 smaller
Indianapolis, IN 46201 86%698$49,195$170,100$103 larger
Omaha, NE 68110 86%1,098$39,813$132,800$122 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
San Antonio, TX 78201 86%1,012$47,121$197,800$172 larger
Amarillo, TX 79102 86%1,218$51,125$153,100$123 smaller
Memphis, TN 38107 85%590$35,265$152,000$83 Very close on everything we compare
Milwaukee, WI 53216 85%946$46,752$143,400$125 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Savannah, GA 31415 84%123$37,109$149,700$167 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Louisville, KY 40215 84%591$43,725$114,900$143 cheaper homes ($59K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77026 84%818$39,211$175,000$178 Very close on everything we compare
Cleveland, OH 44119 83%776$44,077$117,100$97 cheaper homes ($56K less) · older residents
Euclid, OH 44132 83%778$47,969$125,300$128 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Independence, MO 64050 83%942$48,834$145,300$156 cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents
Portsmouth, VA 23707 82%542$48,926$230,800$178 pricier homes ($57K more)
Roanoke, VA 24017 82%489$47,360$150,600$114 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Lynchburg, VA 24504 82%507$52,571$179,700$124 smaller
Columbus, OH 43227 82%667$48,159$152,800$155 less walkable · newer homes
Dayton, OH 45410 82%665$46,651$110,600$99 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Dallas, TX 75215 82%904$45,557$190,100$172 newer homes
Houston, TX 77020 82%818$50,119$163,300$175 newer homes
San Antonio, TX 78202 82%1,008$47,478$234,700$173 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller
San Antonio, TX 78214 82%1,011$44,902$128,800$132 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Milwaukee, WI 53209 81%948$48,486$166,700$137 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Kansas City, MO 64124 81%948$46,241$112,000$130 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · younger residents

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.