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 Waco, TX 76704

Waco: median income $30,349, home value $134,900, $138/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fayetteville, NC 28301 79%1,079$39,198$122,400$146 larger · older residents
Akron, OH 44307 76%1,084$27,697$85,500$95 cheaper homes ($49K less) · older residents
Baton Rouge, LA 70802 76%361$34,458$99,800$102 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Pascagoula, MS 39581 75%516$37,927$153,100$91 larger · older residents
Valdosta, GA 31601 73%817$36,111$142,200$141 larger · more homeowners · newer homes
Pahokee, FL 33476 72%1,045$36,652$154,900$155 older residents · 7 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Pontiac, MI 48342 72%1,077$35,253$101,300$99 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · older residents
Gulfport, MS 39501 71%482$34,758$121,800$92 larger · older residents
Henderson, NC 27536 70%1,120$39,985$131,000$112 larger · older residents · more single-family homes
Spartanburg, SC 29306 70%907$41,356$177,500$152 pricier homes ($43K more) · larger · older residents
Livingston, AL 35470 70%528$29,475$138,700$120 more homeowners
Las Cruces, NM 88001 70%567$33,087$163,800$154 pricier homes ($29K more) · larger
Augusta, GA 30901 68%891$25,163$104,000$109 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · older residents
Chattanooga, TN 37410 68%721$28,708$153,400$174 smaller · more apartments and townhomes · more walkable
Noel, MO 64854 68%375$44,490$132,800$153 older residents · more homeowners · newer homes
High Point, NC 27260 67%1,028$42,308$128,100$162 larger · older residents
Albany, GA 31701 67%763$35,025$94,800$76 cheaper homes ($40K less) · larger · older residents
Lake Providence, LA 71254 67%357$31,433$107,100— cheaper homes ($28K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Huntsville, AL 35805 66%645$35,385$137,800$142 larger · older residents · more walkable
Browning, MT 59417 66%1,437$37,676$150,000— more homeowners · less walkable
Little Rock, AR 72209 66%349$40,231$98,800$95 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · more walkable
Brunswick, GA 31520 65%922$40,071$147,500$155 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Chattanooga, TN 37407 65%723$35,845$98,900$168 cheaper homes ($36K less) · more single-family homes · more walkable
Yazoo City, MS 39194 65%403$32,260$130,200$93 larger · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Kensett, AR 72082 65%403$31,638$91,000$84 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · older residents

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.