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 Ocala, FL 34474

Ocala: median income $65,291, home value $235,300, $160/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Grand Rapids, MI 49512 89%966$71,329$314,900$190 pricier homes ($80K more) · younger residents
Indianapolis, IN 46268 86%774$68,631$229,600$144 5 min longer commute
Branson, MO 65616 85%823$60,489$268,900$186 pricier homes ($34K more) · more homeowners
Greensboro, NC 27409 84%497$60,281$225,000$162 younger residents · more renters
Biloxi, MS 39531 84%414$54,218$211,500$138 younger residents
San Antonio, TX 78217 84%976$60,988$242,300$150 larger · more single-family homes · older homes
Augusta, GA 30909 83%298$71,364$242,400$155 larger · more single-family homes
Indianapolis, IN 46254 82%774$60,287$186,300$148 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · younger residents
Indianapolis, IN 46214 81%770$59,178$201,800$141 cheaper homes ($34K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77058 81%776$68,722$254,900$143 more renters · older homes
Evansville, IN 47715 80%680$60,897$210,600$152 more single-family homes · older homes
Euless, TX 76040 80%917$72,661$297,900$195 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger · younger residents
Stafford, TX 77477 80%804$75,744$257,300$151 larger · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
San Antonio, TX 78240 80%987$63,351$257,500$166 larger · younger residents
Chambersburg, PA 17201 79%788$61,234$227,800$162 older homes
Greensboro, NC 27407 79%494$59,427$223,900$179 larger · more single-family homes
Columbus, OH 43228 79%749$61,713$219,900$186 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Omaha, NE 68127 79%1,140$66,384$248,100$162 more single-family homes · older homes
Webster, TX 77598 79%779$60,977$240,700$185 younger residents · more renters
Bloomington, IN 47403 78%732$70,582$239,700$185 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Wixom, MI 48393 78%927$65,962$335,000$195 pricier homes ($100K more) · younger residents · older homes
Saint Paul, MN 55121 78%1,238$87,152$301,400$195 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller
Valley Park, MO 63088 78%804$65,769$247,100$183 smaller · more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77065 78%807$74,605$278,700$148 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
San Antonio, TX 78216 78%981$59,110$310,700$173 pricier homes ($75K more) · larger · more 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.