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 Bulverde, TX 78163

Bulverde: median income $140,594, home value $435,600, $207/sq ft, 33-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Vail, AZ 85641 96%742$131,164$415,100$204 larger
Chelsea, AL 35043 94%736$121,356$366,200$175 cheaper homes ($69K less)
Elgin, IL 60124 94%1,016$139,982$430,900$211 Very close on everything we compare
Gilbertsville, PA 19525 93%1,478$140,403$405,400$216 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Chesterfield, VA 23838 93%1,304$134,651$465,500$206 pricier homes ($30K more) · older residents
Cumming, GA 30028 93%892$138,011$470,800$201 pricier homes ($35K more) · larger
Union, KY 41091 93%1,005$136,307$399,500$193 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Harrisburg, NC 28075 92%1,103$144,288$482,800$205 pricier homes ($47K more)
Oviedo, FL 32766 92%1,048$147,552$564,400$250 pricier homes ($129K more)
Saint John, IN 46373 92%1,014$127,146$408,900$187 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Peyton, CO 80831 92%722$132,467$548,800$183 pricier homes ($113K more) · larger
Sharpsburg, GA 30277 91%850$120,379$394,200$196 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Phoenix, AZ 85083 91%847$149,087$612,700$267 pricier homes ($177K more)
Hoschton, GA 30548 90%910$111,257$460,800$195 lower income ($29K less) · pricier homes ($25K more)
Land O Lakes, FL 34637 90%971$115,214$434,400$188 lower income ($25K less)
Madisonville, LA 70447 90%497$122,574$393,200$190 cheaper homes ($42K less) · 5 min longer commute
Berthoud, CO 80513 90%818$126,726$600,600$249 pricier homes ($165K more)
Summerfield, NC 27358 89%1,162$138,717$444,400$205 7 min shorter commute
Chapin, SC 29036 89%1,047$113,986$410,700$162 lower income ($27K less)
Saint Augustine, FL 32092 89%1,014$131,020$489,800$216 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger
Fisherville, KY 40023 89%944$144,635$497,800$184 pricier homes ($62K more) · smaller
Fortville, IN 46040 89%1,000$147,500$435,700$168 Very close on everything we compare
Macomb, MI 48042 89%1,239$126,667$410,000$192 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger
Saint Michael, MN 55376 89%1,098$131,266$389,200$185 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Elburn, IL 60119 89%1,005$130,722$402,300$215 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · older 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.