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 75249

Dallas: median income $85,500, home value $286,000, $167/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Memphis, TN 38133 90%446$81,659$270,900$166 Very close on everything we compare
Charlotte, NC 28214 88%933$86,447$295,800$203 larger
Huntsville, AL 35811 88%616$90,812$281,100$166 larger
Mustang, OK 73064 88%195$94,402$247,900$165 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger · older residents
Mary Esther, FL 32569 87%621$77,718$326,000$215 pricier homes ($40K more)
Trenton, OH 45067 87%842$81,605$236,700$182 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Indianapolis, IN 46217 87%771$92,029$244,000$149 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger
Hurricane, WV 25526 86%930$85,176$235,400$157 cheaper homes ($51K less) · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Festus, MO 63028 86%531$79,737$240,000$173 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Willard, MO 65781 86%379$83,816$235,300$174 cheaper homes ($51K less) · smaller
Newcastle, OK 73065 86%184$87,358$249,200$171 cheaper homes ($37K less) · newer homes
Richmond, VA 23237 85%1,148$79,606$277,100$196 larger
Cartersville, GA 30120 85%707$86,581$307,000$179 larger · less walkable
Walton, KY 41094 85%813$96,515$293,700$185 more apartments and townhomes
Franklin, IN 46131 85%770$85,076$247,700$166 cheaper homes ($38K less) · larger
Buffalo, MN 55313 85%882$92,455$345,300$185 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · older residents
Kannapolis, NC 28081 84%953$71,665$285,100$207 larger · older residents
Jacksonville, FL 32221 84%906$82,969$279,200$169 larger
Crestview, FL 32536 84%622$78,119$305,800$169 larger · newer homes
Milton, FL 32571 84%590$87,617$306,700$179 larger · less walkable
Knoxville, TN 37924 84%785$80,112$251,200$200 cheaper homes ($35K less) · less walkable
Galloway, OH 43119 84%916$91,224$253,600$196 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · 7 min shorter commute
Whiteland, IN 46184 84%772$99,865$232,500$176 cheaper homes ($54K less)
Grain Valley, MO 64029 84%467$91,704$309,300$186 more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Valley Center, KS 67147 84%361$88,006$242,300$136 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · 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.