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 78217

San Antonio: median income $60,988, home value $242,300, $150/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Jacksonville, FL 32216 96%1,009$61,821$266,500$181 Very close on everything we compare
Indianapolis, IN 46214 96%987$59,178$201,800$141 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Omaha, NE 68127 93%817$66,384$248,100$162 smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Pensacola, FL 32514 92%673$66,644$259,600$167 Very close on everything we compare
Columbus, OH 43228 92%1,125$61,713$219,900$186 larger · younger residents
Indianapolis, IN 46254 92%990$60,287$186,300$148 cheaper homes ($56K less)
Milwaukee, WI 53223 92%1,104$60,839$203,100$156 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Oklahoma City, OK 73132 92%418$60,419$213,500$131 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Chambersburg, PA 17201 91%1,375$61,234$227,800$162 6 min shorter commute
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 91%1,030$62,198$291,300$219 pricier homes ($49K more)
Melbourne, FL 32901 91%1,081$54,651$282,300$189 pricier homes ($40K more)
Columbus, OH 43213 91%1,138$54,704$211,700$163 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Columbus, OH 43229 91%1,137$57,561$228,200$180 larger
Lakeland, FL 33805 90%1,001$62,661$197,500$178 cheaper homes ($45K less)
Madison, TN 37115 90%822$54,566$307,500$220 pricier homes ($65K more)
Indianapolis, IN 46268 90%993$68,631$229,600$144 Very close on everything we compare
Clementon, NJ 08021 89%1,501$68,044$217,000$210 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Dover, DE 19901 89%1,461$66,388$273,000$183 pricier homes ($31K more)
Hampton, VA 23666 89%1,369$72,568$253,000$194 larger
Mobile, AL 36609 89%618$49,830$205,300$133 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Biloxi, MS 39531 89%569$54,218$211,500$138 cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller
Louisville, KY 40218 89%944$58,811$205,300$147 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Kenosha, WI 53140 89%1,077$58,006$206,700$190 cheaper homes ($36K less) · older homes
Tucson, AZ 85710 89%758$57,175$271,900$189 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger
Newport News, VA 23608 88%1,364$71,126$266,500$198 Very close on everything we compare

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.