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 78242

San Antonio: median income $50,644, home value $148,200, $136/sq ft, 30-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Indianapolis, IN 46241 88%1,001$53,653$130,200$129 6 min shorter commute · older homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73159 88%422$54,642$159,200$142 7 min shorter commute
Morrow, GA 30260 87%890$52,666$205,700$136 pricier homes ($58K more)
Riverdale, GA 30274 87%886$52,209$174,300$133 pricier homes ($26K more)
Forest Park, GA 30297 86%888$45,124$152,900$124 more renters · older homes
Indianapolis, IN 46235 86%1,019$58,951$185,800$133 pricier homes ($38K more)
Chalmette, LA 70043 86%521$55,068$214,700$136 pricier homes ($67K more) · smaller · older residents
Greenville, SC 29611 85%1,018$51,565$195,700$181 pricier homes ($48K more) · older residents
Pensacola, FL 32505 84%684$44,783$136,500$135 older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Birmingham, AL 35215 84%761$52,793$157,300$95 older residents
Saint Louis, MO 63138 84%810$56,096$139,100$103 smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Warner Robins, GA 31093 83%914$45,991$157,100$130 older residents · 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Fort Wayne, IN 46816 83%1,107$45,343$157,700$153 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Spartanburg, SC 29303 82%1,049$48,295$159,500$137 8 min shorter commute · less walkable
Memphis, TN 38141 82%645$60,817$157,900$126 smaller · 8 min shorter commute
Columbus, OH 43223 82%1,145$46,911$131,100$144 7 min shorter commute · older homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73110 82%428$51,228$126,100$130 8 min shorter commute
Memphis, TN 38128 81%648$47,645$138,000$91 7 min shorter commute
Kansas City, MO 64134 81%702$58,170$156,400$141 smaller · 5 min shorter commute · older homes
Winston-Salem, NC 27105 80%1,164$44,080$168,400$155 6 min shorter commute · less walkable
Gastonia, NC 28052 80%1,092$49,643$187,500$174 pricier homes ($39K more) · older residents · less walkable
Columbia, SC 29203 80%1,082$46,054$141,300$148 9 min shorter commute
Indianapolis, IN 46221 80%1,006$65,280$191,300$149 pricier homes ($43K more)
Warren, MI 48091 80%1,252$54,230$149,800$122 older residents · older homes
Rocky Mount, NC 27801 79%1,292$44,884$115,400$109 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · 9 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.