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 Knoxville, TN 37920

Knoxville: median income $66,362, home value $267,600, $228/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Savannah, GA 31406 94%315$67,120$283,300$217 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 92%407$70,711$321,300$217 pricier homes ($54K more)
Eau Claire, WI 54703 92%735$71,518$243,700$178 5 min shorter commute
Hurst, TX 76053 92%784$64,141$270,900$196 Very close on everything we compare
Bloomsburg, PA 17815 91%538$67,510$222,900$160 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
Salisbury, MD 21801 91%488$71,313$327,700$177 pricier homes ($60K more)
Carrollton, GA 30117 91%172$61,842$267,700$173 Very close on everything we compare
Mobile, AL 36608 91%439$61,146$262,200$152 Very close on everything we compare
Middletown, OH 45044 91%252$73,732$241,600$172 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Valparaiso, IN 46383 91%420$76,224$279,900$179 Very close on everything we compare
Grand Rapids, MI 49508 91%492$70,120$281,600$187 Very close on everything we compare
Idaho Falls, ID 83402 91%1,576$74,517$334,900$168 pricier homes ($67K more) · smaller
Salisbury, MD 21804 90%493$73,156$243,700$164 Very close on everything we compare
Richmond, VA 23234 90%373$66,619$266,200$218 Very close on everything we compare
Hampton, VA 23669 90%429$71,222$260,400$187 more walkable
Portsmouth, VA 23703 90%425$78,707$295,900$200 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Durham, NC 27704 90%283$69,668$311,500$205 pricier homes ($44K more)
Lafayette, IN 47905 90%349$65,861$235,600$176 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Arlington, TX 76013 90%784$70,471$310,400$176 pricier homes ($43K more)
Pocatello, ID 83201 90%1,588$66,357$287,200$179 6 min shorter commute
Henrico, VA 23228 89%378$70,260$283,500$235 Very close on everything we compare
Radford, VA 24141 89%206$62,969$236,400$163 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
High Point, NC 27262 89%220$65,006$236,500$155 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Greensboro, NC 27406 89%233$59,563$204,400$164 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Greenville, SC 29605 89%115$65,648$256,300$189 Very close on everything we compare

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.