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 75223

Dallas: median income $73,318, home value $265,100, $271/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Norfolk, VA 23509 93%1,193$72,816$258,000$211 Very close on everything we compare
Keansburg, NJ 07734 90%1,356$82,029$346,900$340 pricier homes ($82K more)
Lyons, IL 60534 90%792$70,890$257,300$224 Very close on everything we compare
Broadview, IL 60155 88%793$64,566$252,200$240 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Hillside, IL 60162 88%793$72,320$246,800$283 older residents
Penns Grove, NJ 08069 87%1,275$71,942$198,100$200 cheaper homes ($67K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Stockton, CA 95204 87%1,425$75,548$387,100$285 pricier homes ($122K more) · larger
Croydon, PA 19021 86%1,311$70,199$293,400$264 pricier homes ($28K more) · more homeowners · less walkable
Modesto, CA 95354 86%1,404$72,879$389,600$305 pricier homes ($125K more) · larger
Mount Ephraim, NJ 08059 85%1,297$89,375$249,700$256 smaller · more homeowners
Westville, NJ 08093 85%1,294$64,104$213,200$232 cheaper homes ($52K less) · more apartments and townhomes
Hampton, VA 23661 85%1,188$65,446$220,500$197 cheaper homes ($45K less) · more homeowners
Franklin Park, IL 60131 85%797$76,658$287,000$278 larger · more homeowners
Trenton, NJ 08610 84%1,322$83,906$264,600$282 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Wilmington, DE 19804 84%1,267$79,701$264,100$219 larger · more homeowners
South Milwaukee, WI 53172 84%849$73,427$235,700$216 cheaper homes ($29K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Bellmawr, NJ 08031 83%1,296$76,654$239,400$235 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more apartments and townhomes · less walkable
Jacksonville, FL 32205 83%900$64,789$291,900$210 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger
Tampa, FL 33604 83%912$58,766$311,900$275 pricier homes ($47K more) · larger
Runnemede, NJ 08078 82%1,297$86,741$250,800$235 more homeowners
Richmond, VA 23222 82%1,138$61,345$274,800$218 larger · younger residents
Norfolk, VA 23513 82%1,194$68,380$234,000$200 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · younger residents
Clearwater, FL 33755 82%896$62,886$328,700$264 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Pennsauken, NJ 08110 81%1,300$83,729$208,800$222 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · more homeowners
Portsmouth, VA 23701 81%1,187$62,349$235,200$203 cheaper homes ($30K less) · larger · more homeowners

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.