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 Lexington, KY 40508

Lexington: median income $29,440, home value $182,800, $240/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cincinnati, OH 45219 75%74$35,657$207,900$164 pricier homes ($25K more) · more renters · older homes
Tucson, AZ 85719 72%1,541$42,241$304,300$266 pricier homes ($122K more) · larger
Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 70%377$29,152$144,500$227 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · less walkable
Denton, TX 76201 70%783$39,982$257,700$188 pricier homes ($75K more) · newer homes
Syracuse, NY 13210 69%558$41,738$173,600$148 Very close on everything we compare
Norfolk, VA 23504 68%459$44,659$269,400$182 pricier homes ($87K more)
Gainesville, FL 32601 68%594$30,352$284,300$254 pricier homes ($102K more)
Pittsburgh, PA 15219 67%293$34,897$214,800$211 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller · older residents
Urbana, IL 61801 67%244$36,180$177,100$158 Very close on everything we compare
Lincoln, NE 68508 67%678$31,191$143,600$329 cheaper homes ($39K less) · more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Albuquerque, NM 87102 67%1,243$42,990$197,300$230 older residents
Daytona Beach, FL 32114 66%643$41,736$199,500$166 larger · older residents · newer homes
Birmingham, AL 35212 66%336$36,633$232,100$188 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller · older residents
Huntsville, AL 35805 65%259$35,385$137,800$142 cheaper homes ($45K less) · older residents
Champaign, IL 61820 65%246$27,539$184,500$153 larger · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Lynchburg, VA 24501 64%296$42,222$174,900$161 older residents · more homeowners
Jackson, MS 39202 64%510$38,554$222,100$135 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · older residents
Huntsville, AL 35816 63%258$40,242$128,900$128 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Duluth, MN 55805 63%717$43,100$189,400$188 smaller · older homes
Pittsburgh, PA 15213 62%294$31,069$233,500$205 pricier homes ($51K more) · more apartments and townhomes
Columbia, SC 29201 62%340$32,297$255,800$213 pricier homes ($73K more) · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Albuquerque, NM 87108 62%1,239$42,724$243,200$193 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · older residents
Las Cruces, NM 88001 62%1,315$33,087$163,800$154 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Knoxville, TN 37915 61%147$26,379$210,800$322 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · older residents
Springfield, MA 01107 60%688$35,632$243,600$187 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller · 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.