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 33813

Lakeland: median income $99,497, home value $366,300, $202/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chesapeake, VA 23321 96%690$101,568$367,900$209 Very close on everything we compare
Chesapeake, VA 23323 95%690$108,730$388,300$222 Very close on everything we compare
Fenton, MO 63026 95%878$97,553$294,400$189 cheaper homes ($72K less)
Lees Summit, MO 64086 95%1,038$102,099$325,600$193 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Mableton, GA 30126 94%435$101,891$377,000$177 Very close on everything we compare
Daphne, AL 36526 94%403$88,750$322,100$177 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Tucson, AZ 85742 94%1,761$98,844$368,300$228 Very close on everything we compare
Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234 93%893$98,217$313,200$232 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Crystal Lake, IL 60014 93%1,049$109,016$323,800$193 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Liberty, MO 64068 93%1,058$92,297$284,500$181 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Raymore, MO 64083 93%1,038$101,667$337,400$189 cheaper homes ($29K less) · newer homes
Mandeville, LA 70448 93%517$95,682$340,300$185 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Tucson, AZ 85748 93%1,743$95,750$368,700$221 smaller
Rio Rancho, NM 87124 93%1,536$86,555$298,000$217 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger
Mechanicsville, VA 23111 92%719$98,969$348,200$232 Very close on everything we compare
Richmond, VA 23236 92%704$110,499$346,900$211 Very close on everything we compare
Chester, VA 23831 92%699$95,750$336,700$207 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Chesterfield, VA 23832 92%699$111,684$363,000$210 Very close on everything we compare
Forest, VA 24551 92%666$91,067$362,500$187 Very close on everything we compare
Newnan, GA 30265 92%410$108,144$372,100$180 newer homes
La Grange, KY 40031 92%748$98,513$341,000$181 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Louisville, KY 40299 92%736$89,440$290,200$176 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Medina, OH 44256 92%911$99,923$316,000$200 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger · older residents
Chesterton, IN 46304 92%986$91,326$293,100$172 cheaper homes ($73K less)
Waukesha, WI 53189 92%1,095$117,008$406,200$243 pricier homes ($40K 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.