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 Winter Haven, FL 33881

Winter Haven: median income $57,024, home value $194,700, $163/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Merrillville, IN 46410 92%982$64,127$208,100$141 Very close on everything we compare
Dunn, NC 28334 89%535$53,036$176,300$165 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Easley, SC 29640 89%471$62,207$217,900$159 less walkable
Walterboro, SC 29488 88%342$49,876$167,300$160 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · less walkable
Athens, AL 35611 88%560$57,377$225,600$158 pricier homes ($31K more) · more renters
Harvey, LA 70058 88%519$62,416$207,500$121 Very close on everything we compare
Los Lunas, NM 87031 88%1,540$60,902$229,500$198 pricier homes ($35K more)
Decatur, GA 30034 87%418$63,517$251,400$135 pricier homes ($57K more)
Dayton, TN 37321 87%550$54,684$192,700$179 smaller · less walkable
Picayune, MS 39466 87%509$52,765$173,400$139 less walkable
Chalmette, LA 70043 87%514$55,068$214,700$136 smaller · younger residents
Hammond, LA 70403 87%553$50,976$212,400$148 Very close on everything we compare
Seaford, DE 19973 86%813$64,387$278,300$202 pricier homes ($84K more) · smaller
Lexington, NC 27292 86%544$57,264$211,400$171 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Smithfield, NC 27577 86%552$62,758$260,300$170 pricier homes ($66K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Oneonta, AL 35121 86%494$60,177$179,900$130 smaller · less walkable
Bay Minette, AL 36507 86%412$50,120$183,800$160 smaller · less walkable
Channelview, TX 77530 86%819$62,195$180,800$148 younger residents
San Antonio, TX 78222 86%1,013$66,362$199,500$135 smaller
Siler City, NC 27344 85%548$57,320$184,200$186 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Elizabeth City, NC 27909 85%654$66,732$234,600$188 pricier homes ($40K more)
Hillsboro, OH 45133 85%776$61,842$172,900$162 smaller · less walkable
Bonne Terre, MO 63628 85%852$63,602$189,100$144 smaller · more single-family homes
Cleburne, TX 76031 85%977$69,155$200,200$168 smaller
Navasota, TX 77868 85%878$67,890$214,800$161 smaller · less walkable

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.