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 32258

Jacksonville: median income $102,204, home value $370,700, $197/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Suffolk, VA 23435 94%549$111,700$394,500$215 Very close on everything we compare
Austin, TX 78754 94%960$90,121$349,400$192 Very close on everything we compare
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 93%995$97,051$379,500$224 Very close on everything we compare
Raleigh, NC 27603 91%420$90,484$383,200$209 Very close on everything we compare
Raleigh, NC 27616 91%433$83,565$349,300$183 larger
North Liberty, IA 52317 91%977$105,318$322,800$175 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Lexington Park, MD 20653 90%631$103,048$353,300$186 smaller
Charleston, SC 29414 90%205$99,529$417,300$258 pricier homes ($47K more)
Pooler, GA 31322 90%137$91,344$312,200$180 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Chaska, MN 55318 90%1,206$112,243$420,400$211 pricier homes ($50K more)
Lexington, KY 40509 89%567$94,804$366,300$191 Very close on everything we compare
Lafayette, LA 70508 89%624$86,005$305,300$163 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Denton, TX 76208 89%934$88,967$369,100$179 Very close on everything we compare
Conroe, TX 77304 89%833$80,425$355,300$159 Very close on everything we compare
San Antonio, TX 78259 89%1,010$114,156$380,800$171 more single-family homes
Durham, NC 27703 88%433$89,317$378,400$201 larger
Concord, NC 28027 88%368$92,219$372,400$206 larger · more single-family homes
Kennesaw, GA 30144 88%322$88,560$345,900$188 Very close on everything we compare
Oak Creek, WI 53154 88%947$96,555$331,700$230 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older homes
Sioux Falls, SD 57108 88%1,241$98,197$413,600$195 pricier homes ($43K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Bismarck, ND 58503 88%1,544$102,333$393,700$196 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
California, MD 20619 87%633$119,432$376,800$212 smaller
Waukee, IA 50263 87%1,046$102,762$352,800$241 5 min shorter commute
Bellevue, NE 68123 87%1,104$93,188$290,800$170 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Fayetteville, AR 72704 87%843$96,014$331,100$212 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more single-family homes

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.