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 37416

Chattanooga: median income $70,705, home value $253,100, $193/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tupelo, MS 38804 94%206$64,420$219,700$155 cheaper homes ($33K less)
Kimberly, WI 54136 94%656$69,495$220,700$183 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Menasha, WI 54952 94%653$69,196$213,200$188 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger
South Glens Falls, NY 12803 93%837$82,057$231,300$229 Very close on everything we compare
Birmingham, AL 35210 93%137$73,061$255,800$191 Very close on everything we compare
South Bend, IN 46637 93%462$71,462$207,100$154 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Utica, MI 48317 93%534$72,917$265,300$186 larger
Port Washington, WI 53074 93%591$79,423$296,600$233 pricier homes ($44K more)
Appleton, WI 54914 93%657$79,875$237,400$180 larger
Saint Peter, MN 56082 93%791$71,456$275,200$169 Very close on everything we compare
Dillon, MT 59725 93%1,600$61,335$311,400$201 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
Saint Joseph, MO 64506 93%619$65,573$240,300$150 larger
Longview, TX 75601 93%576$65,700$210,500$146 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Bloomsburg, PA 17815 92%626$67,510$222,900$160 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger
Danville, PA 17821 92%618$76,971$249,500$164 Very close on everything we compare
Selinsgrove, PA 17870 92%601$70,339$236,800$172 more homeowners
Dover, OH 44622 92%427$70,780$223,600$179 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Portage, MI 49002 92%491$73,647$246,400$174 Very close on everything we compare
Comstock Park, MI 49321 92%551$77,870$274,400$203 newer homes
Sheboygan, WI 53083 92%618$75,203$244,800$188 larger · more homeowners
Baraboo, WI 53913 92%629$74,629$234,900$177 larger
Green Bay, WI 54304 92%667$63,865$220,600$192 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Rochester, MN 55904 92%726$77,016$253,600$186 larger
Jefferson City, MO 65101 92%453$74,807$243,600$142 larger
Casper, WY 82609 92%1,249$71,010$293,900$169 pricier homes ($41K more)

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.