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 37931

Knoxville: median income $92,150, home value $359,600, $208/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kansas City, MO 64155 96%615$97,471$300,900$189 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Morgantown, WV 26508 95%338$90,041$311,500$174 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Greer, SC 29650 95%129$94,522$342,500$192 Very close on everything we compare
De Pere, WI 54115 94%620$94,721$339,500$213 larger
Baton Rouge, LA 70810 94%560$92,098$365,000$186 Very close on everything we compare
Woodway, TX 76712 94%814$97,903$340,600$179 Very close on everything we compare
Jamestown, NC 27282 93%234$91,512$312,900$169 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Belmont, NC 28012 93%180$83,391$374,100$240 Very close on everything we compare
Noblesville, IN 46060 93%299$91,918$321,100$173 cheaper homes ($39K less)
River Falls, WI 54022 93%758$96,642$373,100$203 Very close on everything we compare
Appleton, WI 54913 93%620$105,385$393,400$212 pricier homes ($34K more)
Fayetteville, AR 72704 93%569$96,014$331,100$212 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Gansevoort, NY 12831 92%743$100,024$343,100$264 smaller
Forest, VA 24551 92%284$91,067$362,500$187 Very close on everything we compare
Greensboro, NC 27455 92%241$94,349$341,500$191 older residents
Mooresville, NC 28115 92%187$87,787$360,100$192 Very close on everything we compare
Daphne, AL 36526 92%430$88,750$322,100$177 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Delaware, OH 43015 92%303$105,322$342,700$202 larger
Lees Summit, MO 64086 92%593$102,099$325,600$193 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Ashland, VA 23005 91%386$89,335$402,700$256 pricier homes ($43K more) · smaller
Glen Allen, VA 23060 91%382$104,468$409,900$224 pricier homes ($50K more)
Knightdale, NC 27545 91%315$91,527$346,900$180 Very close on everything we compare
Simpsonville, SC 29680 91%137$86,716$305,400$171 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Melbourne, FL 32904 91%583$90,673$366,300$208 more walkable
Twinsburg, OH 44087 91%396$99,270$320,400$199 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older residents

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.