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 Lutz, FL 33559

Lutz: median income $80,185, home value $377,300, $234/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
North Charleston, SC 29420 93%356$72,661$331,700$190 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Austin, TX 78724 93%929$77,926$344,000$220 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger · newer homes
Pineville, NC 28134 92%485$85,681$383,800$230 Very close on everything we compare
Independence, OR 97351 91%2,505$88,519$396,800$294 smaller
Cheney, WA 99004 91%2,307$67,337$420,500$233 pricier homes ($43K more)
Kennesaw, GA 30144 89%424$88,560$345,900$188 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Hermitage, TN 37076 89%605$74,663$384,400$218 larger · older residents
Canal Winchester, OH 43110 89%806$77,442$304,200$191 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger
Denton, TX 76208 89%936$88,967$369,100$179 larger
Glendale, AZ 85307 89%1,805$82,888$395,700$236 Very close on everything we compare
Gainesville, GA 30504 88%430$75,885$351,600$194 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Saint Marys, GA 31558 88%184$74,268$297,000$181 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Fort Worth, TX 76120 88%933$80,922$306,700$180 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Austin, TX 78747 88%934$92,748$430,300$194 pricier homes ($53K more) · newer homes
Hanahan, SC 29410 87%357$87,984$374,800$250 Very close on everything we compare
Mckinney, TX 75069 87%911$85,327$432,600$242 pricier homes ($55K more) · larger · older residents
Round Rock, TX 78664 87%932$87,417$358,200$194 larger
Austin, TX 78754 87%931$90,121$349,400$192 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger · newer homes
Milford, NH 03055 86%1,177$97,768$398,800$268 older homes
Glassboro, NJ 08028 86%899$89,130$312,100$218 cheaper homes ($65K less) · more walkable
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460 86%530$88,908$343,600$203 cheaper homes ($34K less) · more homeowners
Smyrna, TN 37167 86%589$84,351$365,400$220 larger
River Falls, WI 54022 86%1,282$96,642$373,100$203 Very close on everything we compare
Newport News, VA 23602 85%706$79,475$288,200$193 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger
Raleigh, NC 27616 85%578$83,565$349,300$183 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger

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.