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.

Reset

Towns most like San Antonio, TX 78207

San Antonio: median income $32,472, home value $106,700, $97/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kansas City, MO 64127 89%705$33,111$91,200$94 smaller
Jacksonville, FL 32209 87%1,010$30,514$97,700$102 smaller · older residents
Rochester, NY 14621 83%1,496$35,383$90,700$100 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Louisville, KY 40211 83%949$31,749$100,400$83 smaller · older residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73109 83%419$43,133$99,200$109 smaller
Louisville, KY 40210 82%949$35,347$98,700$99 smaller
Saint Louis, MO 63136 82%797$41,154$84,400$80 Very close on everything we compare
Birmingham, AL 35211 81%742$34,884$96,200$75 smaller
Fort Wayne, IN 46803 81%1,102$34,381$85,200$96 smaller · younger residents
Dayton, OH 45403 80%1,083$38,323$87,500$109 smaller
Wichita, KS 67214 79%576$35,192$76,200$84 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Milwaukee, WI 53218 78%1,111$45,642$133,400$139 pricier homes ($27K more)
Indianapolis, IN 46218 77%1,005$38,063$103,100$94 smaller · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Memphis, TN 38127 76%638$36,901$90,300$75 less walkable
Harvey, IL 60426 76%1,039$42,196$91,000$107 smaller · more homeowners
Little Rock, AR 72209 75%512$40,231$98,800$95 smaller · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Oklahoma City, OK 73119 75%418$45,421$100,600$123 smaller
Mckeesport, PA 15132 74%1,295$35,397$73,900$78 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · older residents
Memphis, TN 38114 74%634$34,206$82,000$90 smaller · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Detroit, MI 48235 74%1,238$39,265$90,000$85 older residents · more homeowners · more single-family homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73108 74%420$37,168$80,700$167 cheaper homes ($26K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Memphis, TN 38118 73%635$43,446$107,600$88 6 min shorter commute · less walkable · newer homes
Dayton, OH 45417 73%1,079$36,945$75,100$84 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · more single-family homes
Louisville, KY 40215 72%948$43,725$114,900$143 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Dayton, OH 45404 72%1,084$38,874$86,900$119 smaller · less walkable

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.