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 32256

Jacksonville: median income $73,570, home value $382,500, $212/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charlotte, NC 28262 89%355$69,231$346,600$184 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Austin, TX 78728 88%961$75,243$437,000$217 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller
Raleigh, NC 27606 87%417$78,371$457,900$247 pricier homes ($75K more)
Spring, TX 77380 87%830$88,562$375,500$215 smaller
Novi, MI 48377 86%855$83,104$350,600$199 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Greenville, SC 29607 85%322$74,503$359,500$194 more single-family homes
Grand Rapids, MI 49512 83%902$71,329$314,900$190 cheaper homes ($68K less) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30318 82%299$83,116$430,600$248 pricier homes ($48K more) · more walkable
Euless, TX 76039 82%931$83,140$341,300$218 cheaper homes ($41K less) · older homes
Marietta, GA 30067 81%308$83,568$445,900$210 pricier homes ($63K more) · 5 min longer commute · older homes
West Des Moines, IA 50266 81%1,039$87,025$345,600$221 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller · more walkable
Fargo, ND 58104 81%1,407$85,747$359,400$177 more walkable
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 80%302$79,309$486,800$210 pricier homes ($104K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Huntsville, AL 35806 80%432$86,768$347,700$174 cheaper homes ($35K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Lawrence, KS 66047 80%984$65,392$342,300$173 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Fayetteville, AR 72703 80%834$60,568$391,000$240 smaller · more single-family homes
Fort Worth, TX 76132 80%948$63,924$396,200$178 smaller · more walkable · older homes
Austin, TX 78729 80%966$86,438$476,200$229 pricier homes ($94K more) · smaller · more single-family homes
Columbus, OH 43235 79%688$86,666$383,500$206 more single-family homes · older homes
Madison, WI 53719 79%988$92,052$367,000$242 smaller
Eden Prairie, MN 55344 79%1,200$89,565$363,500$217 smaller · older homes
Dallas, TX 75287 79%918$63,741$405,600$230 more renters · more walkable
Austin, TX 78753 79%961$65,170$371,300$233 6 min longer commute · more walkable
Durham, NC 27705 78%428$73,066$455,000$261 pricier homes ($73K more) · more single-family homes · older homes
Lenexa, KS 66219 78%960$94,124$394,400$188 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.