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 Dickinson, TX 77539

Dickinson: median income $89,111, home value $264,800, $161/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Gonzales, LA 70737 97%253$82,521$261,600$169 Very close on everything we compare
Moncks Corner, SC 29461 95%922$82,666$301,700$180 pricier homes ($37K more)
Grovetown, GA 30813 95%805$86,923$287,600$153 Very close on everything we compare
Orange Park, FL 32065 95%796$97,455$299,400$171 pricier homes ($35K more)
Jacksonville, FL 32221 94%793$82,969$279,200$169 smaller
Franklin, IN 46131 94%860$85,076$247,700$166 Very close on everything we compare
Denham Springs, LA 70726 94%257$78,621$228,200$151 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Boiling Springs, SC 29316 93%854$74,735$244,900$151 Very close on everything we compare
Goose Creek, SC 29445 93%921$81,594$281,500$199 Very close on everything we compare
Summerville, SC 29483 93%911$85,750$333,300$189 pricier homes ($69K more)
Cartersville, GA 30120 93%682$86,581$307,000$179 pricier homes ($42K more)
Rincon, GA 31326 93%841$83,145$279,300$184 smaller
Grain Valley, MO 64029 93%663$91,704$309,300$186 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller
Slidell, LA 70461 93%323$89,003$273,500$142 Very close on everything we compare
Cabot, AR 72023 93%418$76,931$217,200$148 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Clayton, NC 27520 92%1,054$86,322$320,900$187 pricier homes ($56K more)
Middleburg, FL 32068 92%791$84,431$289,500$187 Very close on everything we compare
Crestview, FL 32536 92%512$78,119$305,800$169 pricier homes ($41K more) · smaller
Lakeland, FL 33811 92%795$90,263$333,200$190 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller
Mobile, AL 36695 92%415$76,040$254,100$151 Very close on everything we compare
Round Lake, IL 60073 92%972$98,514$231,200$185 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Montgomery, IL 60538 92%926$97,131$267,300$207 smaller
Concord, NC 28025 91%938$79,545$306,800$191 pricier homes ($42K more)
Lexington, SC 29073 91%866$77,229$216,300$147 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Summerville, SC 29485 91%910$82,987$341,600$183 pricier homes ($77K more)

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.