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 75244

Dallas: median income $120,286, home value $617,800, $322/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tampa, FL 33609 91%920$115,844$605,600$361 more homeowners
Portland, OR 97225 91%1,627$114,598$751,700$319 pricier homes ($134K more) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28211 89%930$132,917$774,900$360 pricier homes ($157K more) · larger
Decatur, GA 30030 87%726$126,830$631,500$328 larger · 6 min longer commute
Portland, OR 97239 87%1,623$110,134$772,700$321 pricier homes ($155K more)
Towson, MD 21204 86%1,211$99,606$594,800$261 Very close on everything we compare
Middleton, WI 53562 86%807$101,381$532,200$270 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger
Minneapolis, MN 55416 86%851$105,958$461,500$272 cheaper homes ($156K less) · larger
Charlotte, NC 28209 85%927$101,873$623,000$446 larger
Decatur, GA 30033 85%726$111,616$455,300$265 cheaper homes ($163K less) · larger
South Burlington, VT 05403 84%1,495$105,616$442,400$281 cheaper homes ($175K less) · larger
Columbia, MD 21046 84%1,193$127,813$479,500$252 cheaper homes ($138K less) · more homeowners
Atlanta, GA 30338 84%724$135,148$611,300$249 larger
Atlanta, GA 30345 84%726$112,054$573,800$242 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger
Nashville, TN 37206 84%616$96,169$600,200$362 larger · older homes
Orlando, FL 32803 83%967$107,592$455,600$334 cheaper homes ($162K less) · larger · older homes
Boulder, CO 80301 83%676$95,207$793,200$376 lower income ($25K less) · pricier homes ($175K more) · larger
Exton, PA 19341 82%1,272$121,680$509,300$249 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Charlottesville, VA 22902 82%1,089$93,463$436,200$290 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($182K less) · larger
Atlanta, GA 30307 82%723$140,677$727,200$357 pricier homes ($109K more) · larger · older homes
Lafayette, CO 80026 82%669$120,187$705,600$310 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger · more homeowners
Charlotte, NC 28210 81%926$100,824$531,700$315 cheaper homes ($86K less) · larger
Englewood, CO 80113 81%647$96,590$709,100$408 pricier homes ($91K more) · larger · older homes
Lake Oswego, OR 97035 81%1,622$130,603$837,100$364 pricier homes ($219K more) · larger · older residents
King Of Prussia, PA 19406 80%1,286$116,847$429,300$278 cheaper homes ($189K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes

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.