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 San Antonio, TX 78209

San Antonio: median income $86,514, home value $497,000, $266/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Saint Paul, MN 55116 93%1,105$81,141$418,200$260 cheaper homes ($79K less) · smaller
Raleigh, NC 27609 91%1,231$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($26K less) · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43220 91%1,135$74,298$473,500$241 smaller
Charlottesville, VA 22902 90%1,287$93,463$436,200$290 cheaper homes ($61K less) · smaller · newer homes
Portland, ME 04103 89%1,832$89,796$459,500$356 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Denver, CO 80222 89%794$86,472$623,400$359 pricier homes ($126K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute
Denver, CO 80224 89%794$86,352$604,000$274 pricier homes ($107K more) · smaller · 6 min longer commute
Phoenix, AZ 85016 89%846$87,850$564,900$363 pricier homes ($68K more)
Corvallis, OR 97330 89%1,710$70,742$526,800$320 pricier homes ($30K more)
South Portland, ME 04106 88%1,831$86,188$438,800$367 cheaper homes ($58K less) · smaller
Birmingham, AL 35209 88%739$71,439$504,600$311 Very close on everything we compare
Lexington, KY 40502 88%994$76,948$517,900$253 smaller
Minneapolis, MN 55416 88%1,105$105,958$461,500$272 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Nashville, TN 37206 87%822$96,169$600,200$362 pricier homes ($103K more) · smaller
Columbus, OH 43209 87%1,138$89,713$392,500$256 cheaper homes ($105K less) · smaller · older homes
Madison, WI 53705 86%1,063$88,549$475,400$340 smaller
Madison, WI 53711 86%1,061$100,735$424,600$260 cheaper homes ($72K less) · more homeowners
Hopkins, MN 55343 86%1,101$83,143$381,500$212 cheaper homes ($116K less) · smaller
Orlando, FL 32803 85%1,034$107,592$455,600$334 cheaper homes ($41K less) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40222 85%952$82,511$363,000$193 cheaper homes ($134K less) · smaller
Milwaukee, WI 53226 85%1,100$93,132$335,600$245 cheaper homes ($161K less) · smaller
Madison, WI 53704 85%1,068$74,034$318,400$265 cheaper homes ($179K less)
Salt Lake City, UT 84106 85%1,082$101,551$567,900$329 pricier homes ($71K more)
Baltimore, MD 21209 84%1,412$91,437$440,800$215 cheaper homes ($56K less) · 6 min longer commute
Charlottesville, VA 22901 84%1,284$92,145$501,700$272 less walkable · newer 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.