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 Tuscaloosa, AL 35406

Tuscaloosa: median income $119,250, home value $481,600, $204/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Rochester, MN 55902 95%788$120,611$454,800$213 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Yorktown, VA 23693 92%680$124,433$488,400$225 Very close on everything we compare
Waunakee, WI 53597 92%693$117,000$493,200$243 Very close on everything we compare
Colorado Springs, CO 80919 92%1,040$119,518$605,900$214 pricier homes ($124K more)
Akron, OH 44321 91%630$119,178$363,700$185 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Chanhassen, MN 55317 91%863$140,385$539,000$227 pricier homes ($57K more)
East Amherst, NY 14051 90%827$135,663$421,300$238 cheaper homes ($60K less)
Tallahassee, FL 32309 90%274$113,412$376,000$206 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger
Rochester, MI 48309 90%691$121,007$424,600$196 cheaper homes ($57K less) · larger · older homes
Saint Paul, MN 55115 90%865$124,234$488,400$218 smaller
Omaha, NE 68118 90%727$133,281$390,700$158 cheaper homes ($91K less) · smaller
Glenmont, NY 12077 89%986$118,257$401,700$243 cheaper homes ($80K less) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40245 89%364$122,948$445,300$182 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Eden Prairie, MN 55346 89%862$135,000$480,100$211 older homes
Knoxville, TN 37922 88%264$132,807$523,800$245 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Westerville, OH 43082 88%541$147,972$458,200$214 higher income ($29K more) · larger
Saline, MI 48176 88%648$114,206$408,300$229 cheaper homes ($73K less) · 6 min longer commute
Victor, NY 14564 87%866$115,625$353,900$218 cheaper homes ($128K less)
Midlothian, VA 23114 87%628$112,738$409,100$220 cheaper homes ($73K less) · 6 min longer commute
Raleigh, NC 27613 87%534$123,966$520,600$249 pricier homes ($39K more) · larger
Knoxville, TN 37932 87%266$119,703$463,100$223 younger residents
Mason, OH 45040 87%456$133,240$440,000$209 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Brookfield, WI 53045 87%678$123,750$457,700$241 older homes
Lenexa, KS 66227 87%561$139,883$478,200$231 smaller · newer homes
Omaha, NE 68130 87%726$133,570$396,700$163 cheaper homes ($85K less) · 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.