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 40517

Lexington: median income $53,670, home value $216,900, $169/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Antonio, TX 78240 91%998$63,351$257,500$166 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Fort Worth, TX 76116 90%815$56,187$305,800$193 pricier homes ($89K more)
Tallahassee, FL 32301 89%522$50,942$226,700$188 6 min shorter commute
Orlando, FL 32811 89%677$54,082$218,900$177 Very close on everything we compare
Lincoln, NE 68504 89%678$56,213$184,500$158 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Tulsa, OK 74136 89%646$51,820$298,100$130 pricier homes ($81K more)
San Antonio, TX 78216 89%993$59,110$310,700$173 pricier homes ($94K more) · older residents
Columbia, SC 29210 88%331$50,871$194,400$118 Very close on everything we compare
Tampa, FL 33617 88%698$50,948$296,900$214 pricier homes ($80K more)
Houston, TX 77035 88%854$58,686$283,800$164 pricier homes ($67K more)
Houston, TX 77092 87%844$58,728$242,900$200 pricier homes ($26K more)
Richmond, VA 23223 86%388$55,731$265,200$238 pricier homes ($48K more) · larger
Henrico, VA 23294 86%379$64,164$294,500$223 pricier homes ($78K more) · smaller
Jacksonville, FL 32216 86%558$61,821$266,500$181 pricier homes ($50K more) · more homeowners
Columbus, OH 43229 86%166$57,561$228,200$180 larger
San Antonio, TX 78217 86%989$60,988$242,300$150 pricier homes ($25K more) · older residents
Winston-Salem, NC 27101 85%268$44,198$221,000$154 smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Greensboro, NC 27401 85%292$47,972$156,500$177 cheaper homes ($60K less) · smaller
Tampa, FL 33637 85%698$63,323$229,200$200 smaller
Indianapolis, IN 46254 85%161$60,287$186,300$148 cheaper homes ($31K less) · more homeowners
Houston, TX 77082 85%856$62,455$243,300$139 pricier homes ($26K more) · larger · 6 min longer commute
Corpus Christi, TX 78412 85%1,029$61,215$197,500$147 Very close on everything we compare
Charlotte, NC 28217 84%278$64,028$263,300$233 pricier homes ($46K more) · newer homes
Biloxi, MS 39531 84%583$54,218$211,500$138 smaller · less walkable
Columbus, OH 43228 84%155$61,713$219,900$186 larger

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.