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 75041

Garland: median income $70,308, home value $232,100, $181/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Joliet, IL 60432 95%761$64,917$193,700$177 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller
Phoenix, AZ 85019 93%896$68,528$305,200$226 pricier homes ($73K more)
Phoenix, AZ 85031 93%898$70,412$294,800$214 pricier homes ($63K more)
Zion, IL 60099 90%817$66,109$196,700$187 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Joliet, IL 60436 90%755$62,961$180,800$182 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Barstow, CA 92311 90%1,176$61,862$246,400$217 Very close on everything we compare
Bridgeton, NJ 08302 88%1,276$65,516$202,200$181 cheaper homes ($30K less) · less walkable
Norfolk, VA 23513 88%1,187$68,380$234,000$200 6 min shorter commute
Aurora, IL 60505 88%765$73,284$205,100$211 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85033 88%901$64,144$292,800$236 pricier homes ($61K more) · larger
Waukegan, IL 60087 87%814$76,738$206,600$204 cheaper homes ($26K less) · older residents
Elgin, IL 60120 86%781$82,449$242,300$205 larger
Jacksonville, FL 32211 85%902$57,021$229,700$179 7 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85051 85%896$69,189$326,300$221 pricier homes ($94K more)
Saint Paul, MN 55106 84%857$70,187$241,800$176 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Chesapeake, VA 23324 83%1,184$57,045$251,800$193 6 min shorter commute
Jacksonville, FL 32210 83%894$61,050$225,600$164 larger
Alsip, IL 60803 83%779$67,014$220,500$202 older residents
Vineland, NJ 08360 82%1,286$65,359$221,900$198 older residents · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Kannapolis, NC 28083 82%933$66,257$224,700$201 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Cincinnati, OH 45239 82%802$60,324$171,100$154 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Des Moines, IA 50315 82%621$60,590$173,200$187 cheaper homes ($59K less) · 8 min shorter commute
Chicago Heights, IL 60411 82%776$62,073$159,800$158 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Joliet, IL 60435 82%759$76,369$235,500$184 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Independence, MO 64056 82%449$67,685$198,400$160 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · less 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.