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 78239

San Antonio: median income $70,098, home value $229,200, $128/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Wayne, IN 46815 97%1,094$73,239$209,500$141 Very close on everything we compare
Shawnee, OK 74804 93%414$67,631$212,900$144 Very close on everything we compare
Vinton, VA 24179 91%1,191$67,565$224,600$157 smaller · older residents
Fort Wayne, IN 46835 91%1,096$77,152$210,100$161 Very close on everything we compare
Jeffersonville, IN 47130 91%943$70,290$214,000$173 larger
Wichita, KS 67212 91%568$68,145$200,300$126 cheaper homes ($29K less)
Roswell, NM 88201 91%454$61,780$225,000$151 5 min shorter commute
Greenville, SC 29605 90%1,001$65,648$256,300$189 pricier homes ($27K more)
Englewood, OH 45322 90%1,069$75,349$179,700$147 cheaper homes ($50K less) · older residents
Dayton, OH 45424 90%1,076$80,605$183,800$153 cheaper homes ($45K less) · larger
Sterling Heights, MI 48310 90%1,238$78,058$274,700$160 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger
Kansas City, MO 64119 90%704$83,929$229,700$159 Very close on everything we compare
Griffin, GA 30224 89%869$70,216$239,100$155 less walkable
Middletown, OH 45044 89%1,051$73,732$241,600$172 larger
Cincinnati, OH 45240 89%1,036$71,947$203,700$157 cheaper homes ($26K less) · more renters
Cincinnati, OH 45251 89%1,032$74,614$185,300$159 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Lebanon, IN 46052 89%991$68,930$221,900$178 less walkable
Rock Springs, WY 82901 89%1,033$69,954$248,500$154 more apartments and townhomes
Shippensburg, PA 17257 88%1,383$71,181$227,900$156 Very close on everything we compare
Louisville, KY 40228 88%942$79,404$241,300$157 smaller · older residents · newer homes
Indianapolis, IN 46229 88%998$61,388$191,100$137 cheaper homes ($38K less) · more renters
Elkhart, IN 46514 88%1,090$65,833$197,800$148 cheaper homes ($31K less) · less walkable
Goshen, IN 46526 88%1,088$67,461$204,200$159 cheaper homes ($25K less) · less walkable
Warren, MI 48092 88%1,236$73,808$220,400$156 older residents · older homes
Cedar Rapids, IA 52405 88%938$70,123$185,500$137 cheaper homes ($44K less) · older residents · 5 min shorter commute

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.