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 Huntsville, AL 35801

Huntsville: median income $105,585, home value $422,300, $205/sq ft, 16-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbus, OH 43085 92%419$112,517$407,100$227 Very close on everything we compare
Lynchburg, VA 24503 91%452$89,137$347,500$168 cheaper homes ($75K less)
Henrico, VA 23229 90%545$107,854$485,400$303 pricier homes ($63K more) · larger
Columbia, SC 29206 89%324$91,847$369,500$215 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55431 89%784$101,484$373,500$207 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Little Rock, AR 72207 89%329$96,343$406,600$222 smaller
Louisville, KY 40207 88%249$101,898$421,200$202 more walkable
Fort Thomas, KY 41075 88%323$104,875$335,600$265 cheaper homes ($87K less)
Omaha, NE 68124 88%684$98,750$301,400$185 cheaper homes ($121K less) · smaller
Latham, NY 12110 87%883$105,024$340,100$264 cheaper homes ($82K less)
Madison, WI 53716 87%595$91,716$356,800$254 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Greensboro, NC 27408 86%392$83,862$374,700$206 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Grand Rapids, MI 49546 86%569$99,343$417,900$213 more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Saint Louis, MO 63119 86%339$106,183$351,100$241 cheaper homes ($71K less) · more walkable
Metairie, LA 70005 86%387$89,194$430,200$249 Very close on everything we compare
Lafayette, LA 70503 86%448$94,688$341,300$144 cheaper homes ($81K less) · newer homes
Middlebury, VT 05753 85%958$91,659$416,900$258 smaller
Schenectady, NY 12309 85%881$125,274$330,700$221 cheaper homes ($92K less) · more homeowners
Saint Joseph, MI 49085 85%507$104,969$304,600$200 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Williamstown, MA 01267 84%905$106,375$429,800$306 smaller
Orchard Park, NY 14127 84%696$109,386$364,900$237 cheaper homes ($57K less) · 5 min longer commute
Memphis, TN 38120 84%189$123,538$460,700$168 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40223 84%251$96,607$362,500$179 cheaper homes ($60K less) · newer homes
Minneapolis, MN 55427 84%796$92,821$360,200$193 cheaper homes ($62K less) · more walkable
Overland Park, KS 66207 84%533$125,153$440,500$250 Very close on everything we compare

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.