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 Fort Wayne, IN 46816

Fort Wayne: median income $45,343, home value $157,700, $153/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
San Antonio, TX 78219 94%1,092$52,094$162,000$133 Very close on everything we compare
Asheboro, NC 27203 93%465$46,336$156,300$145 Very close on everything we compare
Houston, TX 77039 93%958$47,119$165,600$137 Very close on everything we compare
Spartanburg, SC 29303 91%452$48,295$159,500$137 Very close on everything we compare
Warner Robins, GA 31093 90%585$45,991$157,100$130 Very close on everything we compare
Savannah, GA 31408 89%653$45,839$169,700$159 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Lake Wales, FL 33853 89%928$44,474$209,300$144 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller
Hazelwood, MO 63042 89%319$49,453$149,400$128 Very close on everything we compare
Morrow, GA 30260 88%515$52,666$205,700$136 pricier homes ($48K more)
Tifton, GA 31794 88%666$46,056$130,100$123 cheaper homes ($28K less)
New Iberia, LA 70560 88%849$45,509$133,700$115 larger
Houston, TX 77034 88%970$58,217$197,200$142 pricier homes ($40K more) · larger
Sinton, TX 78387 88%1,140$53,048$166,300$152 smaller
Spartanburg, SC 29306 87%457$41,356$177,500$152 Very close on everything we compare
Florence, SC 29506 87%556$40,311$123,300$148 cheaper homes ($34K less) · less walkable
Haltom City, TX 76117 87%878$51,670$211,700$186 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Houston, TX 77017 87%968$51,079$158,300$146 larger · more walkable
Pasadena, TX 77506 87%966$49,586$146,800$157 larger · more renters
Douglas, AZ 85607 87%1,511$43,351$153,800$162 more single-family homes
Wilson, NC 27893 86%533$42,810$158,600$155 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Riverdale, GA 30274 86%517$52,209$174,300$133 larger
Tallahassee, FL 32305 86%739$48,045$156,300$144 newer homes
Columbus, OH 43223 86%131$46,911$131,100$144 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Donaldsonville, LA 70346 86%823$35,280$176,900$131 smaller
Oklahoma City, OK 73139 86%779$49,655$176,400$137 more 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.