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 Jacksonville, FL 32246

Jacksonville: median income $80,963, home value $312,900, $222/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charlotte, NC 28273 95%336$87,350$340,600$197 pricier homes ($28K more)
Austin, TX 78744 95%968$83,002$357,500$212 pricier homes ($45K more)
Sioux Falls, SD 57106 94%1,240$77,580$290,200$188 Very close on everything we compare
Raleigh, NC 27604 93%419$70,375$349,200$208 pricier homes ($36K more)
Round Rock, TX 78664 93%962$87,417$358,200$194 pricier homes ($45K more)
Newark, DE 19702 92%724$92,446$346,100$209 pricier homes ($33K more)
Chesapeake, VA 23320 92%539$84,305$346,400$219 pricier homes ($34K more)
Wilmington, NC 28405 92%347$70,274$368,500$257 pricier homes ($56K more) · smaller
Newport News, VA 23602 91%551$79,475$288,200$193 Very close on everything we compare
Savannah, GA 31419 91%119$69,635$257,300$178 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Plano, TX 75074 91%911$88,697$371,000$206 pricier homes ($58K more)
Charlotte, NC 28269 90%347$81,517$341,700$197 pricier homes ($29K more)
Wilmington, NC 28412 90%340$71,636$371,900$240 pricier homes ($59K more) · older residents
Columbus, OH 43230 90%677$91,424$306,500$206 Very close on everything we compare
Tyler, TX 75703 90%825$79,194$336,300$179 less walkable
El Paso, TX 79912 90%1,482$72,943$264,200$176 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Raleigh, NC 27616 89%422$83,565$349,300$183 pricier homes ($36K more) · 5 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28216 89%347$65,795$287,000$202 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Greenville, SC 29607 89%317$74,503$359,500$194 pricier homes ($47K more)
Lexington, KY 40511 89%565$79,540$252,400$180 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller
Bloomington, IN 47403 89%674$70,582$239,700$185 cheaper homes ($73K less) · smaller
Oak Creek, WI 53154 89%939$96,555$331,700$230 smaller
Carrollton, TX 75006 89%922$84,815$328,500$202 older homes
San Antonio, TX 78251 89%1,028$78,958$268,300$138 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85027 89%1,801$76,605$354,800$268 pricier homes ($42K more) · 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.