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 36606

Mobile: median income $51,303, home value $172,100, $132/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bethany, OK 73008 95%645$57,459$173,200$139 Very close on everything we compare
Grandview, MO 64030 93%674$53,216$188,800$149 Very close on everything we compare
Kalamazoo, MI 49001 92%814$56,432$157,300$137 older homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73122 92%644$51,227$172,100$125 Very close on everything we compare
Augusta, GA 30904 91%405$46,696$199,200$134 pricier homes ($27K more)
Columbus, GA 31906 91%223$44,965$179,500$116 Very close on everything we compare
Tulsa, OK 74107 91%591$53,505$135,600$145 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Pontiac, MI 48341 90%867$51,390$150,500$119 older residents
Salisbury, NC 28144 89%558$52,568$226,700$159 pricier homes ($55K more) · older residents
Canton, OH 44714 89%796$55,905$149,500$138 smaller
Indianapolis, IN 46226 89%643$50,325$158,600$117 larger
Saint Ann, MO 63074 89%571$51,610$132,700$153 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45239 88%622$60,324$171,100$154 larger
Indianapolis, IN 46203 88%637$57,393$168,200$137 larger
Kansas City, MO 64134 88%676$58,170$156,400$141 Very close on everything we compare
Shreveport, LA 71104 88%354$56,833$164,000$97 5 min shorter commute
Oklahoma City, OK 73110 88%631$51,228$126,100$130 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Waco, TX 76711 88%539$53,185$153,000$125 smaller
Pueblo, CO 81001 88%1,074$48,417$220,200$156 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Lock Haven, PA 17745 87%936$58,555$177,100$120 more homeowners
Roanoke, VA 24012 87%654$52,973$184,400$143 larger · older residents
Martinsburg, WV 25401 87%833$51,909$229,200$173 pricier homes ($57K more) · older residents
Fayetteville, NC 28303 87%611$58,223$189,500$142 larger · newer homes
Columbia, SC 29203 87%475$46,054$141,300$148 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Louisville, KY 40214 87%534$54,931$184,600$146 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.