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 Marcos, TX 78666

San Marcos: median income $54,737, home value $306,700, $173/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Statesboro, GA 30458 90%971$52,038$231,300$177 cheaper homes ($75K less) · smaller
Charlotte, NC 28213 87%1,066$58,146$282,900$192 smaller · older residents
Greenville, NC 27858 86%1,257$59,713$251,100$162 cheaper homes ($56K less) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Orlando, FL 32826 84%1,013$64,755$254,300$228 cheaper homes ($52K less) · smaller
Athens, GA 30605 83%899$50,062$314,200$203 smaller
Murfreesboro, TN 37130 82%786$62,706$371,800$207 pricier homes ($65K more) · smaller · older residents
Cookeville, TN 38501 82%840$52,145$284,600$199 smaller
Fayetteville, AR 72701 82%480$55,506$355,300$218 pricier homes ($49K more) · smaller · 6 min shorter commute
Greenville, NC 27834 79%1,255$48,935$174,500$154 cheaper homes ($132K less) · smaller · older residents
Starkville, MS 39759 79%590$46,398$256,900$173 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller · 5 min shorter commute
Rexburg, ID 83440 79%1,227$58,159$419,300$203 pricier homes ($113K more) · smaller · younger residents
Charlotte, NC 28262 78%1,067$69,231$346,600$184 pricier homes ($40K more) · smaller · more walkable
Central, SC 29630 78%945$55,264$234,500$173 cheaper homes ($72K less) · smaller
Baton Rouge, LA 70816 78%414$67,353$240,100$137 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller · older residents
Conway, AR 72034 78%481$65,635$274,200$163 cheaper homes ($33K less) · smaller · older residents
Union City, GA 30291 77%827$48,184$222,000$139 cheaper homes ($85K less) · smaller · older residents
Columbus, OH 43228 77%1,088$61,713$219,900$186 cheaper homes ($87K less) · older residents · older homes
Bowling Green, OH 43402 76%1,127$52,426$243,100$166 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller · 7 min shorter commute
Dekalb, IL 60115 76%976$47,043$208,600$172 cheaper homes ($98K less) · smaller · older homes
Baton Rouge, LA 70820 76%406$47,429$286,600$137 smaller
Greensboro, NC 27407 74%1,129$59,427$223,900$179 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller · older residents
Gainesville, GA 30501 74%880$64,175$297,800$189 smaller · older residents · older homes
Antioch, TN 37013 74%780$72,755$328,200$206 older residents · more homeowners
Bowling Green, KY 42101 74%825$48,217$207,200$170 cheaper homes ($100K less) · 5 min shorter commute · more single-family homes
Hammond, LA 70401 74%447$50,653$211,000$144 cheaper homes ($96K less) · smaller · older homes

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.