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 Balch Springs, TX 75180

Balch Springs: median income $67,019, home value $223,900, $164/sq ft, 34-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Las Vegas, NV 89142 84%1,074$71,233$345,100$227 pricier homes ($121K more)
Las Vegas, NV 89156 84%1,074$69,767$330,300$219 pricier homes ($106K more)
Zion, IL 60099 83%825$66,109$196,700$187 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Jonesboro, GA 30236 82%711$66,973$249,100$137 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger · less walkable
Joliet, IL 60432 81%769$64,917$193,700$177 cheaper homes ($30K less) · older homes
Chalmette, LA 70043 81%437$55,068$214,700$136 less walkable
Glendale, AZ 85303 81%903$80,650$333,600$240 pricier homes ($110K more)
Saint Cloud, FL 34769 80%963$67,148$313,300$215 pricier homes ($89K more)
Phoenix, AZ 85033 80%903$64,144$292,800$236 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Orlando, FL 32818 79%943$63,061$304,600$202 pricier homes ($81K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Alsip, IL 60803 79%787$67,014$220,500$202 older residents · older homes
Decatur, GA 30035 78%720$66,799$244,200$142 Very close on everything we compare
Bartow, FL 33830 78%943$63,918$228,900$178 less walkable
Winter Haven, FL 33881 78%944$57,024$194,700$163 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · older residents
Tucson, AZ 85746 78%842$68,903$241,300$204 larger · 8 min shorter commute · less walkable
Riverdale, GA 30296 77%707$63,292$219,700$125 less walkable
Fort Myers, FL 33905 77%984$71,987$283,300$186 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · older residents
Harvard, IL 60033 77%800$68,633$203,300$174 smaller · 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Independence, MO 64056 77%459$67,685$198,400$160 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
San Luis, AZ 85349 77%1,056$60,330$223,200$203 7 min shorter commute · less walkable · newer homes
Albuquerque, NM 87121 77%601$60,796$208,200$208 larger · 8 min shorter commute
Barstow, CA 92311 77%1,179$61,862$246,400$217 more renters · older homes
San Jacinto, CA 92583 77%1,174$68,351$372,500$290 pricier homes ($149K more)
Madera, CA 93638 77%1,356$62,374$325,100$279 pricier homes ($101K more) · larger
Plant City, FL 33563 76%922$60,131$226,900$191 older residents · 7 min shorter commute · 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.