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 Tallahassee, FL 32304

Tallahassee: median income $32,348, home value $150,900, $148/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Champaign, IL 61820 77%703$27,539$184,500$153 pricier homes ($34K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Denton, TX 76201 75%776$39,982$257,700$188 pricier homes ($107K more) · smaller
College Station, TX 77840 74%713$30,377$244,800$178 pricier homes ($94K more) · less walkable
Bryan, TX 77801 72%717$39,846$162,300$162 smaller · less walkable
San Antonio, TX 78229 71%855$46,574$228,900$135 pricier homes ($78K more) · older residents
Huntsville, AL 35816 70%325$40,242$128,900$128 smaller · older residents · older homes
Columbia, SC 29201 69%312$32,297$255,800$213 pricier homes ($105K more) · smaller
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 69%269$29,152$144,500$227 more homeowners · more single-family homes · less walkable
Lubbock, TX 79401 65%1,049$26,980$105,600$114 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Springfield, MO 65806 61%695$28,165$88,600$138 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Memphis, TN 38115 60%453$45,636$145,400$96 older residents
Carbondale, IL 62901 60%575$35,089$146,600$99 smaller · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Lincoln, NE 68508 60%996$31,191$143,600$329 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · more walkable
Lexington, KY 40508 59%525$29,440$182,800$240 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · more homeowners
Minneapolis, MN 55404 58%1,114$41,940$291,600$223 pricier homes ($141K more) · smaller · older residents
Dallas, TX 75237 58%754$44,318$247,500$201 pricier homes ($97K more) · smaller · older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55454 57%1,114$23,100$186,600$127 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · older homes
Syracuse, NY 13210 56%980$41,738$173,600$148 smaller · more homeowners · older homes
Wilkes Barre, PA 18701 55%882$33,329$203,600— pricier homes ($53K more) · smaller · older homes
Houston, TX 77081 55%669$43,251$274,000$164 pricier homes ($123K more) · older residents · 9 min longer commute
Hartford, CT 06120 54%1,016$34,830$184,400$156 pricier homes ($34K more) · smaller · older residents
Cincinnati, OH 45219 54%600$35,657$207,900$164 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller · older homes
Milwaukee, WI 53233 54%893$23,750$137,500$146 smaller · more walkable · older homes
Houston, TX 77060 54%662$40,435$156,100$137 older residents · 10 min longer commute
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 53%732$34,897$214,800$211 pricier homes ($64K more) · smaller · older 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.