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 75216

Dallas: median income $41,386, home value $159,800, $171/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Columbus, OH 43227 86%920$48,159$152,800$155 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Jacksonville, FL 32208 85%903$41,324$157,800$124 smaller · older residents
Pensacola, FL 32505 85%582$44,783$136,500$135 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Columbus, OH 43223 83%912$46,911$131,100$144 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85009 82%888$52,054$236,100$230 pricier homes ($76K more)
Indianapolis, IN 46241 81%760$53,653$130,200$129 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Louisville, KY 40216 80%723$56,441$167,100$150 older residents
Greenville, SC 29611 79%836$51,565$195,700$181 pricier homes ($36K more) · smaller · newer homes
Forest Park, GA 30297 79%721$45,124$152,900$124 smaller · more renters
Port Richey, FL 34668 79%892$47,401$191,600$183 pricier homes ($32K more) · older residents · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43224 79%919$53,321$170,800$177 6 min shorter commute
Milwaukee, WI 53218 79%863$45,642$133,400$139 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 6 min shorter commute · more renters
Oklahoma City, OK 73119 79%192$45,421$100,600$123 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Gastonia, NC 28052 78%908$49,643$187,500$174 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller · less walkable
Hammond, IN 46327 78%800$47,288$142,100$182 smaller · older homes
Kansas City, KS 66102 78%458$52,861$115,600$133 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Oklahoma City, OK 73159 78%190$54,642$159,200$142 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · newer homes
Memphis, TN 38122 77%428$48,710$123,000$117 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Indianapolis, IN 46218 77%771$38,063$103,100$94 cheaper homes ($57K less) · smaller
Bakersfield, CA 93304 77%1,283$50,790$240,900$238 pricier homes ($81K more) · 7 min shorter commute
Clearlake, CA 95422 77%1,505$42,241$217,000$201 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller · older residents
Winston-Salem, NC 27105 76%972$44,080$168,400$155 5 min shorter commute · less walkable · newer homes
Columbia, SC 29203 76%914$46,054$141,300$148 8 min shorter commute · newer homes
Warren, MI 48089 76%1,010$52,366$122,100$123 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · less walkable
Harvey, IL 60426 76%794$42,196$91,000$107 cheaper homes ($69K 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.