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 Tampa, FL 33605

Tampa: median income $36,975, home value $264,400, $239/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gretna, LA 70053 84%480$39,950$241,300$148 less walkable
New Orleans, LA 70114 84%479$43,493$206,700$150 cheaper homes ($58K less)
Dallas, TX 75215 83%915$45,557$190,100$172 cheaper homes ($74K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Houston, TX 77021 82%791$45,574$227,900$152 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30314 81%417$42,089$251,700$191 younger residents
Portsmouth, VA 23704 79%708$49,583$230,300$175 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Houston, TX 77023 79%789$51,430$302,300$188 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30315 77%413$50,822$317,700$200 pricier homes ($53K more) · larger
Norfolk, VA 23523 76%710$35,533$224,600$153 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · younger residents
Las Vegas, NV 89104 76%1,985$52,228$325,500$256 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
Waterbury, CT 06705 75%1,079$53,954$202,400$198 cheaper homes ($62K less) · larger
Birmingham, AL 35212 75%462$36,633$232,100$188 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · younger residents
Saint Paul, MN 55103 75%1,313$48,390$257,500$205 younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Dallas, TX 75203 75%917$46,989$159,900$185 cheaper homes ($105K less) · younger residents
Houston, TX 77022 75%793$52,739$219,200$183 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77026 75%790$39,211$175,000$178 cheaper homes ($89K less) · more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77091 75%797$35,432$247,500$182 larger · younger residents · newer homes
Bakersfield, CA 93301 75%2,198$43,561$295,700$209 pricier homes ($31K more) · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Richmond, VA 23224 74%718$50,475$207,500$217 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · younger residents
Houston, TX 77031 74%802$47,162$232,500$131 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Portsmouth, VA 23707 73%708$48,926$230,800$178 cheaper homes ($34K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Houston, TX 77012 73%787$45,025$162,200$156 cheaper homes ($102K less) · younger residents
San Antonio, TX 78201 73%980$47,121$197,800$172 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Albuquerque, NM 87108 73%1,500$42,724$243,200$193 larger · 9 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Las Vegas, NV 89106 73%1,988$42,007$290,000$240 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · younger 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.