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 75217

Dallas: median income $55,723, home value $189,200, $159/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Bridgeton, NJ 08302 82%1,283$65,516$202,200$181 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Chicago Heights, IL 60411 82%786$62,073$159,800$158 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller · older residents
Zion, IL 60099 80%827$66,109$196,700$187 smaller · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85033 79%900$64,144$292,800$236 pricier homes ($104K more)
Barstow, CA 92311 78%1,177$61,862$246,400$217 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller · older residents
Louisville, KY 40216 77%717$56,441$167,100$150 smaller · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Joliet, IL 60432 77%771$64,917$193,700$177 smaller · older residents
Chalmette, LA 70043 77%440$55,068$214,700$136 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85009 76%895$52,054$236,100$230 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Phoenix, AZ 85031 76%897$70,412$294,800$214 pricier homes ($106K more) · smaller
Taft, CA 93268 76%1,314$57,778$236,700$175 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46221 75%759$65,280$191,300$149 smaller · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46241 75%754$53,653$130,200$129 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller · 9 min shorter commute
Gastonia, NC 28052 74%901$49,643$187,500$174 smaller · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Jacksonville, FL 32210 74%895$61,050$225,600$164 pricier homes ($36K more) · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Joliet, IL 60436 74%765$62,961$180,800$182 smaller · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Greenville, SC 29611 73%829$51,565$195,700$181 smaller · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Warren, MI 48091 73%1,002$54,230$149,800$122 cheaper homes ($39K less) · smaller · older residents
Aurora, IL 60505 73%775$73,284$205,100$211 9 min shorter commute
Independence, MO 64056 73%460$67,685$198,400$160 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Hobbs, NM 88240 73%376$63,270$186,900$148 smaller · 9 min shorter commute · newer homes
Burlington, NC 27217 72%1,010$51,950$173,200$182 smaller · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Oklahoma City, OK 73159 72%191$54,642$159,200$142 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller · older residents
Phoenix, AZ 85019 72%896$68,528$305,200$226 pricier homes ($116K more) · smaller
Vineland, NJ 08360 71%1,292$65,359$221,900$198 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · older residents

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.