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 Madison, TN 37115

Madison: median income $54,566, home value $307,500, $220/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tampa, FL 33614 94%621$50,232$322,700$253 Very close on everything we compare
Orlando, FL 32807 93%619$59,971$272,700$238 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Atlanta, GA 30315 92%220$50,822$317,700$200 Very close on everything we compare
Tampa, FL 33617 92%621$50,948$296,900$214 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Worth, TX 76116 92%658$56,187$305,800$193 Very close on everything we compare
Richmond, VA 23223 91%522$55,731$265,200$238 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Melbourne, FL 32901 91%668$54,651$282,300$189 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Charlotte, NC 28208 90%333$55,431$236,300$231 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 90%610$62,198$291,300$219 smaller
Orlando, FL 32810 90%611$60,799$281,100$215 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Houston, TX 77035 90%683$58,686$283,800$164 Very close on everything we compare
San Antonio, TX 78217 90%822$60,988$242,300$150 cheaper homes ($65K less)
Las Vegas, NV 89104 90%1,578$52,228$325,500$256 more walkable
Charlotte, NC 28212 89%342$52,723$266,900$195 cheaper homes ($41K less) · younger residents
Fort Myers, FL 33901 89%724$51,816$302,500$200 smaller
Houston, TX 77080 89%677$62,134$345,000$199 pricier homes ($38K more) · younger residents
Galveston, TX 77551 89%675$58,344$290,600$200 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Atlanta, GA 30354 88%222$63,189$273,700$199 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller
Jacksonville, FL 32216 88%508$61,821$266,500$181 cheaper homes ($41K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Jacksonville, FL 32277 88%503$61,554$283,000$178 younger residents
Orlando, FL 32809 88%621$57,879$323,800$232 Very close on everything we compare
Tampa, FL 33610 88%624$54,209$227,400$229 cheaper homes ($80K less)
Tampa, FL 33612 88%619$47,199$282,000$255 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more walkable
Columbus, OH 43229 88%333$57,561$228,200$180 cheaper homes ($79K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Hurst, TX 76053 88%641$64,141$270,900$196 cheaper homes ($37K less)

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.