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 Dallas, TX 75206

Dallas: median income $91,023, home value $615,400, $363/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Atlanta, GA 30324 87%720$92,122$502,500$277 cheaper homes ($113K less)
Chicago, IL 60610 85%802$105,226$505,900$394 cheaper homes ($110K less) · older homes
Charlotte, NC 28203 84%925$104,696$707,800$459 pricier homes ($92K more) · smaller · newer homes
Atlanta, GA 30308 84%718$85,693$390,200$359 cheaper homes ($225K less) · smaller
Atlanta, GA 30312 84%718$82,779$530,600$310 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Atlanta, GA 30339 82%713$103,277$465,800$242 cheaper homes ($150K less)
Charlotte, NC 28204 81%927$92,054$585,200$326 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · newer homes
Seattle, WA 98122 81%1,677$106,886$957,100$551 pricier homes ($342K more)
Tampa, FL 33602 80%916$97,320$653,100$431 pricier homes ($38K more) · smaller · newer homes
Atlanta, GA 30309 78%718$114,072$432,300$342 cheaper homes ($183K less) · more homeowners
Columbus, OH 43212 77%908$77,257$533,700$336 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller · older homes
Denver, CO 80204 77%662$84,829$620,500$401 Very close on everything we compare
Atlanta, GA 30329 76%721$76,579$488,300$229 cheaper homes ($127K less)
Portland, OR 97201 76%1,630$63,250$673,600$303 lower income ($28K less) · pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
Philadelphia, PA 19123 75%1,295$102,106$539,500$326 cheaper homes ($76K less) · smaller · 9 min longer commute
Charlotte, NC 28209 75%925$101,873$623,000$446 smaller · more homeowners · more single-family homes
San Diego, CA 92108 75%1,181$103,884$618,700$563 Very close on everything we compare
Irvine, CA 92617 75%1,217$91,529$693,700— pricier homes ($78K more) · smaller · younger residents
Raleigh, NC 27607 74%1,050$96,775$707,800$339 pricier homes ($92K more) · younger residents · more homeowners
Charlotte, NC 28202 74%926$105,889$443,500$361 cheaper homes ($172K less) · smaller · newer homes
Atlanta, GA 30305 74%718$106,907$737,500$391 pricier homes ($122K more) · older residents · more homeowners
Orlando, FL 32801 74%961$80,871$428,000$274 cheaper homes ($187K less) · smaller · older residents
Denver, CO 80203 74%660$77,500$470,800$361 cheaper homes ($145K less) · smaller · older homes
Washington, DC 20024 73%1,179$107,411$526,700$367 cheaper homes ($89K less) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Columbus, OH 43215 73%909$74,087$551,200$287 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute

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.