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 Memphis, TN 38116

Memphis: median income $42,183, home value $138,600, $90/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Indianapolis, IN 46226 89%396$50,325$158,600$117 Very close on everything we compare
Albany, GA 31707 88%411$50,862$133,900$98 smaller
Jackson, MS 39206 88%184$42,686$117,400$65 smaller
Huntsville, AL 35805 86%194$35,385$137,800$142 smaller
Oklahoma City, OK 73127 85%431$44,925$156,700$145 smaller
El Paso, TX 79930 85%973$42,099$135,000$134 smaller
Milwaukee, WI 53209 84%570$48,486$166,700$137 pricier homes ($28K more)
Fort Smith, AR 72901 84%249$42,851$118,100$113 smaller · more single-family homes
Houston, TX 77013 84%473$47,060$174,400$118 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller
Syracuse, NY 13205 83%924$38,497$99,000$73 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller · older homes
Columbia, SC 29203 83%516$46,054$141,300$148 more single-family homes
Euclid, OH 44132 83%647$47,969$125,300$128 smaller
Wichita, KS 67203 83%449$52,028$143,800$124 Very close on everything we compare
Wichita, KS 67218 83%443$49,059$122,300$118 smaller · older homes
Little Rock, AR 72209 83%135$40,231$98,800$95 cheaper homes ($40K less) · younger residents · more single-family homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73110 83%418$51,228$126,100$130 more single-family homes
El Paso, TX 79904 83%971$41,841$127,100$142 more single-family homes
Columbia, SC 29210 82%511$50,871$194,400$118 pricier homes ($56K more)
Birmingham, AL 35211 82%209$34,884$96,200$75 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Indianapolis, IN 46227 82%385$53,629$210,000$127 pricier homes ($71K more)
Milwaukee, WI 53216 82%567$46,752$143,400$125 older homes
New Orleans, LA 70127 82%345$40,765$204,700$113 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Newport News, VA 23607 81%771$42,334$171,800$150 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · more renters
Macon, GA 31204 81%393$38,784$135,300$89 more single-family homes · less walkable
Pascagoula, MS 39581 81%334$37,927$153,100$91 smaller · less walkable

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.