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 Helotes, TX 78023

Helotes: median income $134,007, home value $412,900, $169/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Owens Cross Roads, AL 35763 97%797$123,497$396,300$176 Very close on everything we compare
Union, KY 41091 96%1,025$136,307$399,500$193 Very close on everything we compare
Lees Summit, MO 64082 96%684$131,453$411,700$193 Very close on everything we compare
Harrisburg, NC 28075 95%1,124$144,288$482,800$205 pricier homes ($70K more)
Springboro, OH 45066 95%1,071$131,250$393,500$181 Very close on everything we compare
Summerfield, NC 27358 94%1,182$138,717$444,400$205 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Madison, MS 39110 93%548$125,506$362,600$180 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Elgin, IL 60124 93%1,033$139,982$430,900$211 Very close on everything we compare
Eureka, MO 63025 93%769$125,676$391,500$181 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64157 93%710$149,526$386,400$198 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Evans, GA 30809 92%1,013$125,272$367,900$167 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Mechanicsville, VA 23116 91%1,347$141,711$433,900$228 Very close on everything we compare
Matthews, NC 28104 91%1,117$138,017$533,500$253 pricier homes ($121K more)
Midland, GA 31820 91%846$114,468$364,400$159 cheaper homes ($49K less) · smaller
Fortville, IN 46040 91%1,019$147,500$435,700$168 smaller · younger residents
Fort Wayne, IN 46814 91%1,091$147,280$399,300$167 smaller · younger residents
Arlington, TN 38002 90%654$116,895$399,300$164 larger
Avon, OH 44011 90%1,242$135,915$395,900$219 Very close on everything we compare
Omaha, NE 68135 90%813$143,676$350,200$171 cheaper homes ($63K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Saint Augustine, FL 32092 89%1,032$131,020$489,800$216 pricier homes ($77K more) · larger
Tallahassee, FL 32312 89%868$123,032$432,100$228 older homes
Crestwood, KY 40014 89%968$121,189$393,700$187 Very close on everything we compare
Mccordsville, IN 46055 89%1,015$113,784$350,700$165 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller
Omaha, NE 68136 89%810$133,472$373,600$177 cheaper homes ($39K less) · younger residents · 6 min shorter commute
Edmond, OK 73012 89%420$126,659$328,000$171 cheaper homes ($85K less) · larger · younger residents

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.