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 33609

Tampa: median income $115,844, home value $605,600, $361/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75244 91%920$120,286$617,800$322 more renters
Lafayette, CO 80026 90%1,532$120,187$705,600$310 pricier homes ($100K more) · larger
Decatur, GA 30030 88%416$126,830$631,500$328 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Dallas, TX 75209 88%917$134,707$864,200$391 pricier homes ($259K more)
Portland, OR 97225 88%2,503$114,598$751,700$319 pricier homes ($146K more) · older homes
South Burlington, VT 05403 87%1,252$105,616$442,400$281 cheaper homes ($163K less)
Columbia, MD 21046 87%841$127,813$479,500$252 cheaper homes ($126K less)
Austin, TX 78757 87%933$103,860$655,900$427 pricier homes ($50K more) · older homes
Decatur, GA 30033 86%419$111,616$455,300$265 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Dallas, TX 75248 85%918$100,414$576,100$254 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Lake Oswego, OR 97035 85%2,499$130,603$837,100$364 pricier homes ($232K more) · older residents
Charlotte, NC 28211 84%509$132,917$774,900$360 pricier homes ($169K more) · larger · less walkable
Middleton, WI 53562 84%1,118$101,381$532,200$270 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · less walkable
Dallas, TX 75230 84%916$110,956$931,500$359 pricier homes ($326K more) · older residents
Salt Lake City, UT 84117 84%1,878$87,813$648,900$314 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($43K more)
Boulder, CO 80301 83%1,539$95,207$793,200$376 pricier homes ($188K more)
Scottsdale, AZ 85260 83%1,781$97,177$698,200$400 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · less walkable
Cary, NC 27511 82%583$107,860$456,000$286 cheaper homes ($150K less) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28210 82%506$100,824$531,700$315 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · less walkable
Atlanta, GA 30338 82%430$135,148$611,300$249 larger
Beaverton, OR 97008 82%2,503$96,116$578,100$338 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Columbia, MD 21045 81%843$118,563$453,700$255 cheaper homes ($152K less) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Charlottesville, VA 22902 81%735$93,463$436,200$290 cheaper homes ($169K less)
Dallas, TX 75214 81%913$132,313$777,100$431 pricier homes ($172K more) · larger · older homes
Houston, TX 77079 81%802$101,995$679,900$339 pricier homes ($74K more) · larger · more renters

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.