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 Galveston, TX 77550

Galveston: median income $45,047, home value $325,900, $222/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Grand Junction, CO 81501 86%1,034$53,666$314,700$255 newer homes
Tucson, AZ 85716 82%978$49,061$324,000$231 more walkable
Winchester, VA 22601 81%1,166$64,258$339,800$209 newer homes
Baton Rouge, LA 70806 81%233$55,642$325,100$172 younger residents · newer homes
Tucson, AZ 85711 80%975$56,121$280,300$213 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger · more walkable
Greenfield, MA 01301 79%1,536$56,176$265,300$222 cheaper homes ($61K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Lewiston, ME 04240 79%1,693$55,393$235,100$196 cheaper homes ($91K less) · larger
Wilmington, NC 28401 79%1,045$57,968$298,500$270 cheaper homes ($27K less) · more walkable
Augusta, GA 30904 79%806$46,696$199,200$134 cheaper homes ($127K less)
Norfolk, VA 23505 78%1,191$58,579$326,300$221 younger residents
Albuquerque, NM 87108 78%795$42,724$243,200$193 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · more walkable
Holyoke, MA 01040 77%1,522$53,605$274,100$183 cheaper homes ($52K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Birmingham, AL 35212 77%557$36,633$232,100$188 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller · younger residents
Eureka, CA 95501 77%1,829$54,137$412,300$271 pricier homes ($86K more) · more walkable
Richmond, VA 23223 76%1,151$55,731$265,200$238 cheaper homes ($61K less) · larger · newer homes
Martinsburg, WV 25401 76%1,185$51,909$229,200$173 cheaper homes ($97K less) · smaller · 7 min longer commute
Winston-Salem, NC 27101 76%967$44,198$221,000$154 cheaper homes ($105K less) · younger residents · newer homes
North Charleston, SC 29405 76%909$56,600$307,800$284 more walkable
Knoxville, TN 37917 76%783$54,423$219,200$227 cheaper homes ($107K less) · more walkable
Gretna, LA 70053 75%288$39,950$241,300$148 cheaper homes ($85K less) · 8 min longer commute
New Orleans, LA 70117 75%290$45,764$260,000$162 cheaper homes ($66K less) · 7 min longer commute · more homeowners
Littleton, NH 03561 74%1,632$56,746$282,900$213 cheaper homes ($43K less) · smaller · newer homes
Portsmouth, VA 23707 74%1,186$48,926$230,800$178 cheaper homes ($95K less) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Columbus, GA 31901 74%622$51,424$226,500$132 cheaper homes ($99K less) · smaller
Madison, TN 37115 74%672$54,566$307,500$220 larger · 8 min longer commute · newer homes

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.