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 76710

Waco: median income $58,186, home value $250,300, $155/sq ft, 15-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Chambersburg, PA 17201 93%1,236$61,234$227,800$162 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Smith, AR 72903 93%309$61,434$235,900$125 Very close on everything we compare
Plattsburgh, NY 12901 92%1,568$60,942$189,400$166 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Great Falls, MT 59405 92%1,329$59,449$250,100$194 Very close on everything we compare
Fayetteville, NC 28303 91%1,079$58,223$189,500$142 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Evansville, IN 47715 91%707$60,897$210,600$152 cheaper homes ($40K less) · newer homes
Green Bay, WI 54304 91%1,023$63,865$220,600$192 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Mishawaka, IN 46545 90%929$56,865$177,900$159 cheaper homes ($72K less) · 5 min longer commute
Waterville, ME 04901 89%1,737$57,403$204,700$181 cheaper homes ($46K less) · more homeowners
Winchester, VA 22601 89%1,191$64,258$339,800$209 pricier homes ($90K more)
High Point, NC 27262 89%1,032$65,006$236,500$155 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, GA 31904 89%718$66,291$226,000$147 larger · more single-family homes
Devils Lake, ND 58301 89%1,149$59,515$205,000$154 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
Bismarck, ND 58501 89%1,072$68,755$279,700$161 pricier homes ($29K more) · more homeowners
Saint Joseph, MO 64506 89%586$65,573$240,300$150 more homeowners
Omaha, NE 68127 89%671$66,384$248,100$162 more walkable
Bangor, ME 04401 88%1,781$66,932$239,900$198 larger
Johnson City, TN 37604 88%910$52,345$259,600$196 larger
Springfield, MO 65804 88%449$62,301$243,500$162 larger
Lafayette, LA 70506 88%317$57,379$218,000$135 cheaper homes ($32K less) · larger · newer homes
Baton Rouge, LA 70806 88%367$55,642$325,100$172 pricier homes ($75K more)
Alamosa, CO 81101 88%642$54,844$240,400$183 smaller · newer homes
Grand Junction, CO 81501 88%824$53,666$314,700$255 pricier homes ($64K more)
Northport, AL 35476 87%572$61,154$221,400$176 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Fairborn, OH 45324 87%933$64,979$184,200$155 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger · 6 min longer 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.