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 Chattanooga, TN 37410

Chattanooga: median income $28,708, home value $153,400, $174/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Antonio, TX 78208 74%858$26,595$146,600$187 older residents · more homeowners
Norfolk, VA 23523 72%521$35,533$224,600$153 pricier homes ($71K more) · larger · older residents
Milwaukee, WI 53205 71%574$31,529$124,200$96 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Fresno, CA 93701 71%1,923$32,768$246,400$172 pricier homes ($93K more) · larger · older residents
Waco, TX 76704 68%721$30,349$134,900$138 larger · more single-family homes · less walkable
Schenectady, NY 12307 66%814$24,758$104,600$122 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Huntsville, AL 35816 66%77$40,242$128,900$128 larger
Hartford, CT 06120 65%828$34,830$184,400$156 pricier homes ($31K more) · larger · older residents
Springfield, MO 65806 63%471$28,165$88,600$138 cheaper homes ($65K less) · larger · less walkable
Wilkes Barre, PA 18701 62%669$33,329$203,600— pricier homes ($50K more) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Louisville, KY 40203 62%226$30,794$197,300$145 pricier homes ($44K more) · larger · older residents
Lubbock, TX 79401 61%948$26,980$105,600$114 cheaper homes ($48K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Huntsville, AL 35805 60%77$35,385$137,800$142 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Cincinnati, OH 45232 60%292$28,367$130,500$87 larger · 7 min longer commute · older homes
Lexington, KY 40508 59%216$29,440$182,800$240 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Tulsa, OK 74146 59%597$46,865$145,700$133 larger · more homeowners
North Little Rock, AR 72114 58%394$30,175$130,000$85 larger · older residents
Bryan, TX 77801 58%709$39,846$162,300$162 larger · less walkable · newer homes
San Antonio, TX 78226 58%865$33,398$107,100$138 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · older residents
Montgomery, AL 36104 57%190$33,823$172,700$104 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Newport News, VA 23607 56%516$42,334$171,800$150 larger · older residents · older homes
Daytona Beach, FL 32114 56%472$41,736$199,500$166 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · older residents
Pahokee, FL 33476 56%629$36,652$154,900$155 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Columbus, OH 43222 56%365$32,321$228,300$140 pricier homes ($75K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Cincinnati, OH 45204 56%286$31,236$95,400$121 cheaper homes ($58K less) · larger · 6 min longer commute

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.