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 75236

Dallas: median income $49,715, home value $255,800, $179/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Norcross, GA 30093 90%740$48,404$265,700$178 larger
Union City, GA 30291 88%718$48,184$222,000$139 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Fort Myers, FL 33916 85%995$52,586$266,500$177 older residents · more walkable
Tampa, FL 33613 84%919$44,032$272,700$233 larger
Orlando, FL 32811 83%963$54,082$218,900$177 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Kissimmee, FL 34741 83%970$52,409$306,400$190 pricier homes ($51K more) · larger · more walkable
Charlotte, NC 28212 82%942$52,723$266,900$195 larger · older homes
Charleston, SC 29406 82%980$49,815$229,300$209 cheaper homes ($27K less) · larger · more homeowners
Orlando, FL 32839 81%966$47,313$280,700$191 larger · more walkable
Clarkston, GA 30021 80%736$52,278$275,400$182 7 min longer commute · older homes
Tampa, FL 33637 80%924$63,323$229,200$200 cheaper homes ($27K less) · more homeowners
Biloxi, MS 39531 80%494$54,218$211,500$138 cheaper homes ($44K less) · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Charlotte, NC 28213 78%942$58,146$282,900$192 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · more homeowners
Homestead, FL 33034 78%1,108$47,170$339,300$250 pricier homes ($84K more) · more walkable
Charlotte, NC 28217 77%933$64,028$263,300$233 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more walkable
Greenville, NC 27834 76%1,132$48,935$174,500$154 cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger · 8 min shorter commute
Orlando, FL 32822 76%973$56,540$255,000$199 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Nashville, TN 37217 76%630$62,796$317,400$193 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · more homeowners
Saint Cloud, MN 56304 76%901$58,148$251,500$147 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners · older homes
Greensboro, NC 27409 75%996$60,281$225,000$162 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 7 min shorter commute
Central, SC 29630 74%823$55,264$234,500$173 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Statesboro, GA 30458 74%881$52,038$231,300$177 larger · younger residents · 7 min shorter commute
Tampa, FL 33617 74%923$50,948$296,900$214 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · more homeowners
Hammond, LA 70401 74%407$50,653$211,000$144 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 7 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Gainesville, GA 30501 73%762$64,175$297,800$189 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · 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.