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 Lakeland, FL 33812

Lakeland: median income $103,052, home value $373,700, $206/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rowlett, TX 75088 96%936$105,313$358,400$177 larger
Pleasant Hill, MO 64080 94%1,030$104,311$320,600$187 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Raymore, MO 64083 94%1,040$101,667$337,400$189 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger
Smithville, MO 64089 94%1,071$101,009$327,200$196 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Lake Dallas, TX 75065 94%967$102,597$334,400$194 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Dawsonville, GA 30534 93%467$95,341$386,000$206 larger
Jordan, MN 55352 93%1,322$112,070$414,300$200 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Rowlett, TX 75089 93%937$118,318$382,400$177 larger
Oxford, PA 19363 92%883$107,067$370,200$217 Very close on everything we compare
Stephens City, VA 22655 92%797$109,169$388,400$202 Very close on everything we compare
Flowery Branch, GA 30542 92%445$99,648$393,000$184 larger
Pataskala, OH 43062 92%832$105,968$326,600$202 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger
Buffalo, MN 55313 92%1,358$92,455$345,300$185 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Van Alstyne, TX 75495 92%948$111,563$397,900$197 Very close on everything we compare
Sanger, TX 76266 92%981$99,425$338,300$169 cheaper homes ($35K less) · less walkable
Sandy, OR 97055 92%2,502$112,323$493,900$274 pricier homes ($120K more)
Douglassville, PA 19518 91%919$114,181$354,700$210 older homes
Winchester, VA 22602 91%800$101,398$379,700$214 larger
Midland, NC 28107 91%509$105,122$385,500$191 smaller · less walkable
Hampstead, NC 28443 91%509$90,477$391,900$215 larger
Johnstown, OH 43031 91%842$110,930$389,900$224 Very close on everything we compare
Dyer, IN 46311 91%986$116,652$331,600$184 cheaper homes ($42K less)
New Richmond, WI 54017 91%1,321$98,571$321,700$211 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Lake In The Hills, IL 60156 91%1,046$117,151$321,900$201 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger
Willis, TX 77318 91%840$92,415$316,900$169 cheaper homes ($57K less)

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.