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 Arlington, TX 76005

Arlington: median income $168,806, home value $523,400, $228/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lenexa, KS 66227 88%450$139,883$478,200$231 lower income ($29K less) · cheaper homes ($45K less)
Timnath, CO 80547 87%684$180,492$742,300$244 pricier homes ($219K more)
Gambrills, MD 21054 84%1,229$163,825$611,000$251 pricier homes ($88K more) · larger · older homes
Urbandale, IA 50323 84%642$175,944$486,800$244 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Stilwell, KS 66085 83%441$152,500$538,300$241 larger · older residents · older homes
Mars, PA 16046 82%1,099$151,560$481,300$212 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · older homes
Avondale, PA 19311 82%1,290$155,771$540,800$197 larger · older homes
Apex, NC 27523 82%1,072$135,625$659,300$252 lower income ($33K less) · pricier homes ($136K more) · larger
Davidson, NC 28036 82%961$156,496$630,900$313 pricier homes ($108K more) · larger · older homes
Apex, NC 27539 81%1,072$145,947$565,600$237 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger · older homes
Colorado Springs, CO 80924 81%597$139,447$656,800$207 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($133K more) · larger
Saint Paul, MN 55129 80%870$143,795$534,900$199 lower income ($25K less) · larger
Hamel, MN 55340 80%873$178,553$639,100$234 pricier homes ($116K more) · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Lewis Center, OH 43035 79%944$154,683$456,400$210 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · older homes
Novi, MI 48374 79%1,006$182,827$577,700$222 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · older homes
Minneapolis, MN 55446 79%872$170,625$583,500$210 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · older homes
Glen Allen, VA 23059 78%1,163$157,897$593,700$238 pricier homes ($70K more) · larger · older homes
Lake Elmo, MN 55042 78%877$154,341$602,100$236 pricier homes ($79K more) · larger · more homeowners
Shawnee, KS 66218 78%456$168,878$436,600$207 cheaper homes ($87K less) · more single-family homes · older homes
Castle Rock, CO 80109 78%623$155,025$675,500$224 pricier homes ($152K more) · larger
New Albany, OH 43054 77%949$148,100$510,600$234 larger · more renters · older homes
Carver, MN 55315 77%848$140,893$453,000$208 lower income ($28K less) · cheaper homes ($70K less) · more homeowners
Kansas City, MO 64156 77%476$130,224$410,800$204 lower income ($39K less) · cheaper homes ($113K less)
Shawnee, KS 66226 77%456$173,667$416,200$188 cheaper homes ($107K less) · larger · more single-family homes
Elkhorn, NE 68022 77%590$148,111$462,800$195 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger

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.