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 Leander, TX 78645

Leander: median income $113,008, home value $434,600, $225/sq ft, 35-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Marana, AZ 85658 90%788$123,415$478,400$238 pricier homes ($44K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Sherrills Ford, NC 28673 89%1,042$99,688$459,200$195 smaller
Orland Park, IL 60467 89%953$114,812$411,700$210 larger · more apartments and townhomes
Fleming Island, FL 32003 87%969$116,611$422,400$209 larger · younger residents · 5 min shorter commute
Fort Myers, FL 33913 87%1,023$110,373$488,800$224 pricier homes ($54K more) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Alva, FL 33920 87%1,023$98,571$420,900$201 smaller
Columbus, NJ 08022 86%1,466$117,679$429,800$256 smaller · younger residents · more single-family homes
Denver, NC 28037 86%1,042$111,703$491,900$235 pricier homes ($57K more) · larger · younger residents
Port Orange, FL 32128 86%1,021$95,831$422,300$225 6 min shorter commute
Bradenton, FL 34212 86%961$125,486$529,100$240 pricier homes ($95K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Sugar Grove, IL 60554 85%945$122,734$386,400$205 cheaper homes ($48K less) · younger residents
Apollo Beach, FL 33572 84%956$122,130$472,800$217 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · younger residents
Parrish, FL 34219 84%961$113,773$454,900$200 larger · younger residents
Port Saint Lucie, FL 34987 84%1,080$90,201$460,900$219 pricier homes ($26K more) · newer homes
Palm City, FL 34990 84%1,093$129,560$592,400$283 pricier homes ($158K more) · larger
Pinckney, MI 48169 84%1,137$109,329$373,400$236 cheaper homes ($61K less) · younger residents · older homes
Sarasota, FL 34241 83%965$116,412$564,600$267 pricier homes ($130K more) · 8 min shorter commute
Lodi, WI 53555 83%1,003$119,305$392,200$209 cheaper homes ($42K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Lemont, IL 60439 83%956$121,724$480,800$264 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · younger residents
Surprise, AZ 85387 83%876$98,757$481,000$221 pricier homes ($46K more) · less walkable
Manahawkin, NJ 08050 82%1,479$115,676$422,900$327 larger · younger residents · older homes
Lanexa, VA 23089 82%1,296$108,802$400,600$252 cheaper homes ($34K less) · smaller · older homes
Boynton Beach, FL 33472 82%1,112$101,959$446,200$256 older residents · 8 min shorter commute
Valrico, FL 33596 82%964$116,465$432,300$212 larger · younger residents
Saint John, IN 46373 82%959$127,146$408,900$187 cheaper homes ($26K less) · 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.