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 32208

Jacksonville: median income $41,324, home value $157,800, $124/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Antonio, TX 78214 92%1,008$44,902$128,800$132 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Roanoke, VA 24017 89%487$47,360$150,600$114 6 min shorter commute
Columbus, OH 43227 89%663$48,159$152,800$155 Very close on everything we compare
Houston, TX 77016 89%814$47,677$125,000$143 cheaper homes ($33K less)
San Antonio, TX 78237 89%1,012$42,772$115,500$136 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Houston, TX 77029 87%812$48,279$135,100$144 smaller
San Antonio, TX 78220 87%1,003$41,710$143,700$141 smaller · younger residents
Houston, TX 77020 86%815$50,119$163,300$175 Very close on everything we compare
Houston, TX 77033 86%818$38,071$128,900$139 cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Cleveland, OH 44135 85%763$53,848$132,800$154 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Dallas, TX 75216 85%903$41,386$159,800$171 larger · younger residents
San Antonio, TX 78228 85%1,012$52,976$174,900$142 larger
Hamilton, OH 45015 84%639$48,312$120,700$169 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Independence, MO 64050 84%938$48,834$145,300$156 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Independence, MO 64052 84%939$59,007$150,600$139 Very close on everything we compare
Little Rock, AR 72204 84%688$40,882$124,700$84 cheaper homes ($33K less) · 6 min shorter commute
El Paso, TX 79903 84%1,465$37,155$128,400$138 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Huntsville, AL 35810 83%417$51,233$150,100$136 less walkable
Indianapolis, IN 46218 83%696$38,063$103,100$94 cheaper homes ($55K less) · 6 min longer commute
Warren, MI 48089 83%837$52,366$122,100$123 cheaper homes ($36K less) · less walkable
Detroit, MI 48223 83%834$44,512$99,500$88 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Oklahoma City, OK 73111 83%980$40,340$120,700$111 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Tulsa, OK 74127 83%918$46,373$134,200$126 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77026 83%816$39,211$175,000$178 more renters
San Antonio, TX 78211 83%1,013$55,436$118,300$130 cheaper homes ($40K 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.