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 37922

Knoxville: median income $132,807, home value $523,800, $245/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Powell, OH 43065 95%304$154,481$482,200$215 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Westerville, OH 43082 95%304$147,972$458,200$214 cheaper homes ($66K less)
Midlothian, VA 23113 94%376$142,344$614,100$235 pricier homes ($90K more)
Tallahassee, FL 32312 94%369$123,032$432,100$228 cheaper homes ($92K less)
Carmel, IN 46033 93%304$153,143$487,100$185 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Dexter, MI 48130 93%449$129,254$480,500$249 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller
Flower Mound, TX 75028 93%763$149,436$488,700$233 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Spring, TX 77381 91%767$143,565$473,600$231 cheaper homes ($50K less)
East Amherst, NY 14051 90%574$135,663$421,300$238 cheaper homes ($103K less) · smaller
Apex, NC 27502 90%296$143,922$550,900$241 pricier homes ($27K more)
Apex, NC 27539 90%296$145,947$565,600$237 pricier homes ($42K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Prospect, KY 40059 90%191$152,727$559,300$210 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · older residents
Avon, OH 44011 90%402$135,915$395,900$219 cheaper homes ($128K less) · smaller
Mason, OH 45040 90%241$133,240$440,000$209 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Round Rock, TX 78681 90%866$137,819$497,300$223 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Birmingham, AL 35226 89%230$124,516$411,000$193 cheaper homes ($113K less) · older homes
Rochester, MI 48306 89%477$163,684$546,000$213 higher income ($31K more)
Eden Prairie, MN 55346 89%793$135,000$480,100$211 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · older homes
Spring, TX 77382 89%767$162,384$566,500$222 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($43K more) · 5 min longer commute
Glen Allen, VA 23059 88%385$157,897$593,700$238 higher income ($25K more) · pricier homes ($70K more)
Mechanicsville, VA 23116 88%396$141,711$433,900$228 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Holly Springs, NC 27540 88%296$128,989$522,500$239 6 min longer commute
Matthews, NC 28104 88%200$138,017$533,500$253 6 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28270 88%195$131,667$589,500$271 pricier homes ($66K more)
Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 88%264$119,250$481,600$204 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller

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.