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 Garland, TX 75040

Garland: median income $74,519, home value $266,300, $179/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bakersfield, CA 93306 92%1,284$69,805$320,600$219 pricier homes ($54K more)
Middletown, OH 45044 91%819$73,732$241,600$172 Very close on everything we compare
Carpentersville, IL 60110 91%783$87,906$233,700$215 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller
Kannapolis, NC 28083 90%931$66,257$224,700$201 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller
Aurora, IL 60506 90%761$79,517$253,700$211 older homes
New Castle, DE 19720 89%1,252$75,403$265,000$203 more apartments and townhomes
Orange Park, FL 32073 89%897$76,455$287,600$181 older residents
Apopka, FL 32703 89%945$72,880$344,200$215 pricier homes ($78K more)
Orlando, FL 32818 89%947$63,061$304,600$202 pricier homes ($38K more)
Peoria, AZ 85345 89%902$67,380$319,800$242 pricier homes ($54K more)
Tucson, AZ 85741 89%839$76,271$299,500$219 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller
Kannapolis, NC 28081 88%930$71,665$285,100$207 smaller
Charlotte, NC 28227 88%925$77,115$349,700$218 pricier homes ($83K more)
Saint Cloud, FL 34769 88%967$67,148$313,300$215 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Elgin, IL 60120 88%778$82,449$242,300$205 more apartments and townhomes
Tucson, AZ 85730 88%828$62,090$246,100$203 smaller
Richmond, VA 23234 87%1,123$66,619$266,200$218 less walkable
Hampton, VA 23669 87%1,180$71,222$260,400$187 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Concord, NC 28025 87%935$79,545$306,800$191 pricier homes ($41K more) · less walkable
Charlotte, NC 28215 87%922$71,162$315,000$202 pricier homes ($49K more) · newer homes
Greenville, SC 29605 87%826$65,648$256,300$189 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Marietta, GA 30008 87%697$74,877$307,600$184 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Fort Myers, FL 33905 87%989$71,987$283,300$186 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Kissimmee, FL 34743 87%961$62,992$321,300$230 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller
Zion, IL 60099 87%814$66,109$196,700$187 cheaper homes ($70K less) · smaller

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.