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 75232

Dallas: median income $61,847, home value $220,100, $164/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Portsmouth, VA 23701 96%1,195$62,349$235,200$203 Very close on everything we compare
Kannapolis, NC 28083 95%948$66,257$224,700$201 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40258 95%724$68,162$183,500$156 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Middletown, OH 45042 93%840$69,520$202,200$156 Very close on everything we compare
Hazel Crest, IL 60429 93%795$66,988$183,600$141 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63125 93%546$61,624$178,600$155 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Kansas City, MO 64133 93%459$67,750$178,500$140 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Knoxville, TN 37914 92%775$59,856$218,300$186 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Albuquerque, NM 87105 92%588$55,644$220,900$203 larger
Louisville, KY 40216 91%727$56,441$167,100$150 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45231 91%823$71,353$176,000$156 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Dearborn Heights, MI 48127 91%997$60,742$231,800$174 Very close on everything we compare
Beloit, WI 53511 91%804$67,067$173,500$164 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Midlothian, IL 60445 91%796$70,634$208,000$197 smaller
Florissant, MO 63033 91%561$66,776$173,700$126 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Independence, MO 64055 91%462$62,439$176,700$142 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Vineland, NJ 08360 90%1,303$65,359$221,900$198 Very close on everything we compare
Vinton, VA 24179 90%1,010$67,565$224,600$157 smaller
Louisville, KY 40272 90%723$69,940$176,200$164 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Latonia, KY 41015 90%818$65,683$187,700$156 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Des Moines, IA 50317 90%644$65,617$177,600$203 cheaper homes ($43K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Kansas City, MO 64138 90%454$58,638$188,400$142 cheaper homes ($32K less)
Millville, NJ 08332 89%1,300$67,496$214,200$192 more apartments and townhomes
Cleveland, OH 44129 89%1,026$70,651$166,400$175 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Dayton, OH 45414 89%859$54,485$182,300$145 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · 5 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.