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 Melissa, TX 75454

Melissa: median income $138,827, home value $456,100, $181/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Cumming, GA 30028 94%715$138,011$470,800$201 larger
Fortville, IN 46040 93%751$147,500$435,700$168 Very close on everything we compare
Union, KY 41091 92%767$136,307$399,500$193 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Aurora, CO 80018 92%633$136,895$588,200$225 pricier homes ($132K more)
Chelsea, AL 35043 91%573$121,356$366,200$175 cheaper homes ($90K less)
Vail, AZ 85641 91%826$131,164$415,100$204 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Wesley Chapel, FL 33545 90%915$118,889$399,400$193 cheaper homes ($57K less)
Land O Lakes, FL 34638 90%904$123,899$433,600$198 larger
Clayton, NC 27527 89%1,047$115,035$390,200$179 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Saint Augustine, FL 32092 89%914$131,020$489,800$216 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger · older residents
Peyton, CO 80831 89%592$132,467$548,800$183 pricier homes ($93K more)
Harrisburg, NC 28075 88%918$144,288$482,800$205 pricier homes ($27K more) · older residents
Land O Lakes, FL 34637 88%905$115,214$434,400$188 smaller
Mccordsville, IN 46055 88%746$113,784$350,700$165 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($105K less)
Lees Summit, MO 64082 88%403$131,453$411,700$193 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Madisonville, LA 70447 88%424$122,574$393,200$190 cheaper homes ($63K less) · 6 min longer commute
Wellington, CO 80549 88%694$107,614$475,900$195 lower income ($31K less) · smaller
Moseley, VA 23120 87%1,096$158,667$569,300$224 pricier homes ($113K more)
Rolesville, NC 27571 87%1,044$131,139$495,100$184 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · older residents
Richmond Hill, GA 31324 87%894$122,378$386,600$197 cheaper homes ($70K less) · larger
Bolingbrook, IL 60490 87%741$150,531$395,000$217 cheaper homes ($61K less) · older homes
Hoschton, GA 30548 86%737$111,257$460,800$195 lower income ($28K less) · older residents
Saint Augustine, FL 32095 86%919$136,038$525,000$229 pricier homes ($69K more) · older residents
Helena, AL 35080 86%559$118,344$312,900$176 cheaper homes ($143K less) · older homes
Pike Road, AL 36064 86%612$119,853$380,800$172 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller · 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.