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 33617

Tampa: median income $50,948, home value $296,900, $214/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Worth, TX 76116 96%953$56,187$305,800$193 Very close on everything we compare
Richmond, VA 23223 93%718$55,731$265,200$238 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Charlotte, NC 28212 93%504$52,723$266,900$195 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Houston, TX 77035 93%800$58,686$283,800$164 Very close on everything we compare
Houston, TX 77092 93%800$58,728$242,900$200 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Madison, TN 37115 92%621$54,566$307,500$220 Very close on everything we compare
Phoenix, AZ 85015 92%1,797$54,874$345,000$247 pricier homes ($48K more)
Colorado Springs, CO 80910 91%1,484$61,969$320,300$198 smaller
Mesa, AZ 85210 91%1,782$61,957$337,800$260 pricier homes ($41K more)
Charleston, SC 29406 90%366$49,815$229,300$209 cheaper homes ($68K less) · newer homes
Nashville, TN 37217 90%611$62,796$317,400$193 smaller · 5 min longer commute
Houston, TX 77080 90%803$62,134$345,000$199 pricier homes ($48K more)
San Antonio, TX 78216 90%980$59,110$310,700$173 Very close on everything we compare
Charlotte, NC 28208 89%505$55,431$236,300$231 cheaper homes ($61K less) · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30315 89%409$50,822$317,700$200 5 min longer commute · more single-family homes
Atlanta, GA 30340 89%419$62,748$344,000$204 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Columbus, OH 43229 89%833$57,561$228,200$180 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Lexington, KY 40517 88%698$53,670$216,900$169 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Richmond, VA 23224 87%713$50,475$207,500$217 cheaper homes ($89K less)
Irving, TX 75061 87%928$63,798$257,800$181 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Mesa, AZ 85201 87%1,782$67,294$328,800$252 pricier homes ($32K more)
Las Vegas, NV 89121 87%1,983$55,758$308,500$215 Very close on everything we compare
San Antonio, TX 78217 86%975$60,988$242,300$150 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Las Vegas, NV 89104 86%1,985$52,228$325,500$256 pricier homes ($29K more) · older residents
Kennewick, WA 99336 86%2,352$62,527$324,400$240 pricier homes ($28K more)

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.