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 Bryan, TX 77802

Bryan: median income $70,666, home value $254,500, $170/sq ft, 17-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Winston-Salem, NC 27103 96%996$67,012$241,700$182 Very close on everything we compare
Bloomington, IN 47403 95%804$70,582$239,700$185 Very close on everything we compare
Augusta, GA 30909 94%856$71,364$242,400$155 larger
Eau Claire, WI 54701 94%1,011$74,361$289,900$184 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Ridgeland, MS 39157 93%385$66,068$275,000$158 Very close on everything we compare
Alexandria, LA 71303 93%231$67,156$244,200$143 Very close on everything we compare
Kearney, NE 68845 92%715$76,978$282,000$147 pricier homes ($28K more)
Oklahoma City, OK 73120 92%348$64,745$238,000$167 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, GA 31909 91%683$69,166$221,300$149 cheaper homes ($33K less) · larger
Huntsville, AL 35802 91%632$76,324$334,100$170 pricier homes ($80K more)
Knoxville, TN 37923 91%795$73,699$333,000$213 pricier homes ($79K more)
Davenport, IA 52807 91%819$72,579$348,200$180 pricier homes ($94K more) · smaller
Dalton, GA 30720 90%718$69,369$249,800$146 Very close on everything we compare
Macon, GA 31210 90%755$78,447$285,800$130 pricier homes ($31K more)
Menomonie, WI 54751 90%1,011$72,028$253,000$168 younger residents
Winston-Salem, NC 27106 89%998$68,568$313,100$176 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Greensboro, NC 27407 89%1,019$59,427$223,900$179 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger
Chattanooga, TN 37415 89%711$70,972$285,000$216 pricier homes ($31K more) · older homes
Knoxville, TN 37909 89%798$66,984$312,500$223 pricier homes ($58K more) · smaller
Columbus, MS 39705 89%501$68,487$231,800$145 smaller
Bloomington, IN 47404 89%807$61,389$257,500$191 more walkable
Evansville, IN 47715 89%714$60,897$210,600$152 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Rochester, MN 55904 89%947$77,016$253,600$186 more homeowners
Springfield, MO 65804 89%483$62,301$243,500$162 larger
Shreveport, LA 71115 89%198$65,509$262,700$129 smaller

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.