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.

Reset

Towns most like Florence, AL 35630

Florence: median income $46,304, home value $174,800, $132/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fayetteville, NC 28303 93%492$58,223$189,500$142 Very close on everything we compare
Jonesboro, AR 72401 93%185$45,329$188,600$124 Very close on everything we compare
Augusta, GA 30904 91%336$46,696$199,200$134 older homes
Grandview, MO 64030 91%471$53,216$188,800$149 5 min longer commute
Springfield, MO 65807 91%355$53,870$192,400$162 larger · newer homes
Columbus, GA 31906 90%226$44,965$179,500$116 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Natchitoches, LA 71457 90%379$46,668$197,000$134 Very close on everything we compare
Pueblo, CO 81001 90%968$48,417$220,200$156 pricier homes ($45K more)
Columbia, SC 29203 89%381$46,054$141,300$148 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Albany, GA 31707 89%300$50,862$133,900$98 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Hattiesburg, MS 39401 89%261$41,127$134,300$120 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Lafayette, LA 70506 89%410$57,379$218,000$135 pricier homes ($43K more)
Mcallen, TX 78501 89%865$48,071$161,000$129 larger · newer homes
Mishawaka, IN 46545 88%480$56,865$177,900$159 Very close on everything we compare
Lansing, MI 48911 88%567$56,631$146,600$133 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Charleston, IL 61920 88%323$52,429$149,200$104 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller
Emporia, KS 66801 88%534$56,794$152,700$117 Very close on everything we compare
Murray, KY 42071 87%128$50,198$190,300$151 more homeowners
Joplin, MO 64801 87%414$52,620$180,600$137 Very close on everything we compare
Springfield, MO 65803 87%357$50,572$173,500$149 more single-family homes
Russellville, AR 72801 87%311$47,830$163,700$129 smaller · younger residents
Harlingen, TX 78550 87%843$49,007$131,100$136 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · newer homes
Gallup, NM 87301 87%1,190$58,772$168,500$149 smaller
Wilson, NC 27893 86%552$42,810$158,600$155 Very close on everything we compare
Salisbury, NC 28144 86%408$52,568$226,700$159 pricier homes ($52K 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.