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 34475

Ocala: median income $30,174, home value $222,000, $161/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Donaldsonville, LA 70346 80%533$35,280$176,900$131 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 6 min longer commute · less walkable
Gretna, LA 70053 79%476$39,950$241,300$148 5 min longer commute · older homes
Tunica, MS 38676 78%610$33,943$184,400$119 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · older residents
Savannah, GA 31408 77%206$45,839$169,700$159 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Valdosta, GA 31601 77%125$36,111$142,200$141 cheaper homes ($80K less) · larger · younger residents
New Orleans, LA 70127 77%472$40,765$204,700$113 larger · 7 min longer commute
Lake Isabella, CA 93240 76%2,149$31,267$221,000$170 smaller · more homeowners · less walkable
Huntsville, AL 35805 75%458$35,385$137,800$142 cheaper homes ($84K less) · older homes
Norfolk, VA 23523 74%624$35,533$224,600$153 smaller · more renters · older homes
Wilson, NC 27893 74%511$42,810$158,600$155 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · less walkable
Spartanburg, SC 29306 74%390$41,356$177,500$152 cheaper homes ($45K less) · less walkable
Brunswick, GA 31520 74%139$40,071$147,500$155 cheaper homes ($75K less) · larger · older homes
Chattanooga, TN 37406 74%440$44,850$168,000$176 cheaper homes ($54K less) · older homes
Knoxville, TN 37912 74%478$47,416$210,900$221 larger
Lamont, CA 93241 74%2,174$33,417$211,900$239 younger residents · more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77051 73%795$37,415$185,500$175 cheaper homes ($37K less) · 8 min longer commute · newer homes
Houston, TX 77091 73%799$35,432$247,500$182 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Nogales, AZ 85621 73%1,718$43,464$193,200$141 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · less walkable
Las Cruces, NM 88001 73%1,472$33,087$163,800$154 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · younger residents
Biloxi, MS 39530 72%411$41,117$161,400$172 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · older residents
Fort Wayne, IN 46816 72%829$45,343$157,700$153 cheaper homes ($64K less) · 5 min longer commute
New Orleans, LA 70126 72%476$41,709$191,600$101 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Lynchburg, VA 24501 71%586$42,222$174,900$161 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · younger residents
Savannah, GA 31415 71%204$37,109$149,700$167 cheaper homes ($72K less) · older homes
El Paso, TX 79904 71%1,453$41,841$127,100$142 cheaper homes ($95K less) · larger

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.