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 Tomball, TX 77377

Tomball: median income $129,327, home value $378,200, $161/sq ft, 32-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Clayton, NC 27527 94%1,074$115,035$390,200$179 Very close on everything we compare
Acworth, GA 30101 94%703$110,774$412,400$181 pricier homes ($34K more) · larger
Richmond Hill, GA 31324 94%861$122,378$386,600$197 Very close on everything we compare
Land O Lakes, FL 34638 94%805$123,899$433,600$198 pricier homes ($55K more)
Oswego, IL 60543 94%901$119,371$343,800$206 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Evans, GA 30809 93%830$125,272$367,900$167 6 min shorter commute
Arlington, TN 38002 93%499$116,895$399,300$164 Very close on everything we compare
Pickerington, OH 43147 93%997$126,534$348,300$185 cheaper homes ($30K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Saint Michael, MN 55376 93%1,052$131,266$389,200$185 smaller
Wentzville, MO 63385 93%663$112,199$347,200$189 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 92%1,051$110,017$414,000$205 pricier homes ($36K more)
Kennesaw, GA 30152 92%700$126,578$427,500$191 pricier homes ($49K more)
Spanish Fort, AL 36527 92%467$120,189$389,000$186 smaller
New Lenox, IL 60451 92%900$137,404$393,100$212 Very close on everything we compare
Middletown, DE 19709 91%1,304$132,956$470,900$205 pricier homes ($93K more)
Dacula, GA 30019 91%742$116,583$440,700$168 pricier homes ($63K more)
Newnan, GA 30265 91%684$108,144$372,100$180 Very close on everything we compare
Macomb, MI 48044 91%1,121$117,856$370,300$168 Very close on everything we compare
Lake Villa, IL 60046 91%952$126,042$308,100$194 cheaper homes ($70K less) · older homes
Algonquin, IL 60102 91%931$132,949$349,900$206 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Plainfield, IL 60586 91%897$131,637$328,400$198 cheaper homes ($50K less)
Eureka, MO 63025 91%651$125,676$391,500$181 smaller
Lake Saint Louis, MO 63367 91%664$137,648$409,100$183 pricier homes ($31K more) · 6 min shorter commute
Swedesboro, NJ 08085 90%1,329$134,762$384,500$225 smaller
Lexington, SC 29072 90%887$106,382$332,400$168 cheaper homes ($46K 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.