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 77551

Galveston: median income $58,344, home value $290,600, $200/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Winchester, VA 22601 96%1,169$64,258$339,800$209 pricier homes ($49K more)
Metairie, LA 70001 92%284$67,923$339,400$197 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger
Chambersburg, PA 17201 91%1,219$61,234$227,800$162 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Harrisonburg, VA 22802 91%1,115$66,423$280,700$196 Very close on everything we compare
Henrico, VA 23228 91%1,151$70,260$283,500$235 larger
Green Bay, WI 54304 91%1,116$63,865$220,600$192 cheaper homes ($70K less)
Grand Junction, CO 81501 91%1,034$53,666$314,700$255 6 min shorter commute
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 90%815$62,198$291,300$219 more apartments and townhomes
Billings, MT 59101 90%1,360$58,598$268,700$214 larger
Bangor, ME 04401 89%1,780$66,932$239,900$198 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger
Martinsburg, WV 25401 89%1,188$51,909$229,200$173 cheaper homes ($61K less)
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 89%498$65,342$321,200$251 pricier homes ($31K more)
Melbourne, FL 32901 89%865$54,651$282,300$189 more walkable
Vero Beach, FL 32960 89%883$54,682$280,000$211 older residents
Madison, TN 37115 89%675$54,566$307,500$220 larger · 6 min longer commute
Mishawaka, IN 46545 89%985$56,865$177,900$159 cheaper homes ($113K less)
Kenosha, WI 53140 89%1,000$58,006$206,700$190 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Rapid City, SD 57701 89%1,125$56,461$251,200$211 cheaper homes ($39K less) · larger · more homeowners
Great Falls, MT 59405 89%1,534$59,449$250,100$194 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Omaha, NE 68127 89%827$66,384$248,100$162 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Baton Rouge, LA 70806 89%236$55,642$325,100$172 pricier homes ($35K more) · younger residents
Waterville, ME 04901 88%1,735$57,403$204,700$181 cheaper homes ($86K less) · more homeowners
Norfolk, VA 23502 88%1,195$63,208$266,200$209 more walkable
Jacksonville, FL 32216 88%797$61,821$266,500$181 larger
Pensacola, FL 32514 88%464$66,644$259,600$167 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · 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.