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 Universal City, TX 78148

Universal City: median income $74,783, home value $267,000, $144/sq ft, 25-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Salisbury, MD 21804 94%1,434$73,156$243,700$164 larger
Salisbury, MD 21801 92%1,430$71,313$327,700$177 pricier homes ($61K more)
Columbus, GA 31909 92%817$69,166$221,300$149 cheaper homes ($46K less) · larger
Pensacola, FL 32514 92%666$66,644$259,600$167 larger
Fayetteville, NC 28311 91%1,194$62,170$216,900$151 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Decatur, GA 30035 91%876$66,799$244,200$142 Very close on everything we compare
Carrollton, GA 30117 91%826$61,842$267,700$173 larger
Saint Marys, GA 31558 91%1,003$74,268$297,000$181 pricier homes ($30K more)
Groveport, OH 43125 91%1,126$84,043$246,500$187 Very close on everything we compare
Kenosha, WI 53144 91%1,072$76,507$259,600$214 Very close on everything we compare
Menomonie, WI 54751 91%1,114$72,028$253,000$168 5 min shorter commute
Minot, ND 58703 91%1,308$82,728$263,200$143 6 min shorter commute
Lees Summit, MO 64063 91%685$80,459$263,000$174 Very close on everything we compare
Alexandria, LA 71303 91%365$67,156$244,200$143 7 min shorter commute
Newport News, VA 23602 90%1,358$79,475$288,200$193 larger
Austell, GA 30106 90%855$68,881$288,100$166 Very close on everything we compare
Dalton, GA 30720 90%857$69,369$249,800$146 7 min shorter commute
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 90%701$70,711$321,300$217 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Northport, AL 35473 90%682$69,657$272,800$168 Very close on everything we compare
Mobile, AL 36608 90%603$61,146$262,200$152 larger
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 90%1,133$70,477$241,800$181 cheaper homes ($25K less) · larger
Fairfield, OH 45014 90%1,032$75,661$232,400$170 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Miamisburg, OH 45342 90%1,057$84,907$230,300$156 cheaper homes ($37K less) · larger · more homeowners
Valparaiso, IN 46383 90%1,035$76,224$279,900$179 larger · more homeowners
Oklahoma City, OK 73132 90%417$60,419$213,500$131 cheaper homes ($54K less)

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.