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 Novi, MI 48377

Novi: median income $83,104, home value $350,600, $199/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Spring, TX 77380 93%1,081$88,562$375,500$215 larger
Kissimmee, FL 34747 91%986$77,755$462,400$220 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger
Baton Rouge, LA 70809 89%935$79,967$324,000$182 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Gainesville, FL 32606 87%887$87,953$347,800$189 more single-family homes
Kansas City, MO 64154 87%624$86,213$355,700$205 Very close on everything we compare
Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 86%591$79,309$486,800$210 pricier homes ($136K more) · larger · older homes
Jacksonville, FL 32256 86%855$73,570$382,500$212 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger
Eden Prairie, MN 55344 86%523$89,565$363,500$217 Very close on everything we compare
Huntsville, AL 35806 85%563$86,768$347,700$174 younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Columbus, OH 43235 85%167$86,666$383,500$206 pricier homes ($33K more) · larger · older homes
Austin, TX 78729 85%1,147$86,438$476,200$229 pricier homes ($126K more) · larger
Raleigh, NC 27617 84%521$110,034$489,600$218 higher income ($27K more) · pricier homes ($139K more)
Lawrence, KS 66049 84%663$90,147$393,400$190 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Lenexa, KS 66219 84%638$94,124$394,400$188 pricier homes ($44K more) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Smyrna, GA 30080 83%598$91,957$450,400$227 pricier homes ($100K more) · larger · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30350 83%591$88,118$516,000$194 pricier homes ($165K more) · larger · older homes
Flowood, MS 39232 83%790$82,931$365,000$187 smaller · more single-family homes
Greenville, SC 29607 82%533$74,503$359,500$194 larger · more single-family homes
Tallahassee, FL 32311 82%836$81,243$321,600$207 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Panama City Beach, FL 32407 82%860$80,831$404,200$235 pricier homes ($54K more)
Fort Myers, FL 33966 82%1,104$84,965$388,800$214 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · older residents
Madison, WI 53719 82%308$92,052$367,000$242 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more walkable
Lawrence, KS 66047 82%664$65,392$342,300$173 younger residents
Cockeysville, MD 21030 81%411$89,015$450,700$233 pricier homes ($100K more) · older homes
Marietta, GA 30067 81%595$83,568$445,900$210 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger · younger 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.