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 75241

Dallas: median income $53,998, home value $192,000, $163/sq ft, 31-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Louisville, KY 40216 89%724$56,441$167,100$150 6 min shorter commute
Zion, IL 60099 89%833$66,109$196,700$187 Very close on everything we compare
Chalmette, LA 70043 89%444$55,068$214,700$136 more apartments and townhomes
Port Richey, FL 34668 87%890$47,401$191,600$183 older residents
Indianapolis, IN 46221 87%765$65,280$191,300$149 Very close on everything we compare
Chicago Heights, IL 60411 87%792$62,073$159,800$158 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger
Independence, MO 64056 87%465$67,685$198,400$160 smaller
Albuquerque, NM 87105 86%592$55,644$220,900$203 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Kannapolis, NC 28083 85%945$66,257$224,700$201 pricier homes ($33K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Greenville, SC 29611 84%836$51,565$195,700$181 5 min shorter commute · more renters
Winter Haven, FL 33880 84%951$56,390$228,300$169 pricier homes ($36K more) · less walkable
Louisville, KY 40258 84%721$68,162$183,500$156 older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Harvard, IL 60033 84%808$68,633$203,300$174 smaller
Dolton, IL 60419 84%798$57,887$151,300$138 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller · older residents
Westwego, LA 70094 84%433$53,597$159,700$136 cheaper homes ($32K less) · 5 min shorter commute · less walkable
Portsmouth, VA 23701 83%1,191$62,349$235,200$203 pricier homes ($43K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Riverdale, GA 30296 83%716$63,292$219,700$125 pricier homes ($28K more) · newer homes
Pensacola, FL 32506 83%579$62,486$206,100$164 Very close on everything we compare
Bartow, FL 33830 83%951$63,918$228,900$178 pricier homes ($37K more)
Warren, MI 48091 83%1,009$54,230$149,800$122 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Joliet, IL 60432 83%778$64,917$193,700$177 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Vineland, NJ 08360 82%1,299$65,359$221,900$198 pricier homes ($30K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Hopewell, VA 23860 82%1,146$62,141$206,500$195 less walkable
Burlington, NC 27217 82%1,017$51,950$173,200$182 less walkable
Gastonia, NC 28052 82%908$49,643$187,500$174 more renters · less walkable

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.