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 Mobile, AL 36602

Mobile: median income $41,420, home value $316,400, $211/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lexington, KY 40507 73%547$41,329$328,600$323 larger · 5 min shorter commute · more walkable
Reno, NV 89501 67%1,885$33,963$414,000$352 pricier homes ($98K more) · larger · more walkable
Spring Park, MN 55384 58%1,030$48,315$661,600$452 pricier homes ($345K more) · larger
Duluth, MN 55802 56%1,132$51,544$494,400$439 pricier homes ($178K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Dallas, TX 75246 54%533$53,555$447,800$256 pricier homes ($131K more) · larger · younger residents
Tulsa, OK 74119 45%593$56,234$251,700$125 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · younger residents
Charleston, WV 25301 44%643$25,417$196,900$145 cheaper homes ($120K less) · larger · 10 min shorter commute
Jacksonville, FL 32204 44%379$65,063$375,000$246 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · younger residents
Louisville, KY 40202 42%539$35,584$257,300$258 cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger · younger residents
Plattsburgh, NY 12903 41%1,250$77,733$210,400$158 higher income ($36K more) · cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger
Casselberry, FL 32730 41%426$47,500$318,100$204 larger · younger residents · more homeowners
Little Rock, AR 72202 41%372$50,899$262,500$149 cheaper homes ($54K less) · larger · younger residents
Chattanooga, TN 37402 40%340$24,214$268,800$332 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · younger residents
Indianapolis, IN 46216 40%644$53,161$272,200$135 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · younger residents
Dania, FL 33004 39%577$52,574$342,400$258 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · younger residents
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 37%475$66,955$372,400$249 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($56K more) · larger
Butler, WI 53007 37%858$60,000$244,700$218 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger · younger residents
Buffalo, NY 14209 36%984$50,046$429,400$157 pricier homes ($113K more) · larger · younger residents
Atlanta, GA 30337 36%293$51,388$320,900$181 larger · younger residents · more single-family homes
Jacksonville, FL 32202 36%381$34,825$268,800$159 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · younger residents
Saint Francis, WI 53235 36%849$57,368$234,500$237 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · more homeowners
New Orleans, LA 70113 36%132$39,333$305,800$141 larger · younger residents · older homes
Buffalo, NY 14202 35%982$56,528$479,100$288 pricier homes ($163K more) · larger · younger residents
The Plains, OH 45780 35%686$60,557$237,600$163 cheaper homes ($79K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Muskegon, MI 49440 35%872$46,808$176,400$193 cheaper homes ($140K less) · younger residents · older homes

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.