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 78214

San Antonio: median income $44,902, home value $128,800, $132/sq ft, 27-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jacksonville, FL 32208 92%1,008$41,324$157,800$124 pricier homes ($29K more)
Columbus, OH 43227 91%1,146$48,159$152,800$155 Very close on everything we compare
Harvey, IL 60426 90%1,041$42,196$91,000$107 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Pensacola, FL 32505 89%677$44,783$136,500$135 newer homes
Hamilton, OH 45015 89%1,051$48,312$120,700$169 smaller
Independence, MO 64050 89%712$48,834$145,300$156 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64129 89%706$51,310$119,400$125 smaller
Hammond, IN 46327 88%1,047$47,288$142,100$182 smaller
Louisville, KY 40215 87%949$43,725$114,900$143 7 min shorter commute · more renters
Toledo, OH 43612 87%1,193$50,728$93,800$107 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Cleveland, OH 44135 87%1,252$53,848$132,800$154 5 min shorter commute
Fort Wayne, IN 46809 87%1,099$52,253$133,100$156 smaller
Independence, MO 64052 87%709$59,007$150,600$139 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64132 87%702$45,622$108,000$98 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Oklahoma City, OK 73119 87%422$45,421$100,600$123 cheaper homes ($28K less) · younger residents
Roanoke, VA 24017 86%1,197$47,360$150,600$114 7 min shorter commute
Columbus, OH 43223 86%1,139$46,911$131,100$144 more renters
Indianapolis, IN 46218 86%1,007$38,063$103,100$94 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Detroit, MI 48223 86%1,237$44,512$99,500$88 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Kansas City, KS 66102 86%708$52,861$115,600$133 younger residents
Jacksonville, FL 32254 85%1,006$34,953$110,500$152 smaller
Cleveland, OH 44125 85%1,260$57,363$116,500$127 6 min shorter commute
Cleveland, OH 44128 85%1,263$43,993$98,500$98 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Omaha, NE 68110 85%837$39,813$132,800$122 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Memphis, TN 38122 84%640$48,710$123,000$117 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.