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 Lubbock, TX 79410

Lubbock: median income $44,537, home value $246,400, $121/sq ft, 13-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Greensboro, NC 27403 66%1,261$57,917$249,200$186 larger · more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Houghton, MI 49931 65%1,167$50,408$232,800$162 more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Pittsburg, KS 66762 63%483$50,511$145,300$110 cheaper homes ($101K less) · larger · more homeowners
Wayne, NE 68787 63%654$60,275$230,700— more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Memphis, TN 38111 62%689$52,589$190,100$136 cheaper homes ($56K less) · larger · older residents
Lawrence, KS 66044 62%530$55,955$235,000$199 larger · 5 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Chadron, NE 69337 62%642$54,306$163,800— cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller · older residents
Wichita, KS 67208 59%385$60,914$183,300$126 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger · older residents
Clarion, PA 16214 58%1,339$57,521$171,600$107 cheaper homes ($75K less) · more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Augusta, GA 30904 58%1,143$46,696$199,200$134 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · older residents
Platteville, WI 53818 58%885$55,567$236,700$157 larger · more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Kirksville, MO 63501 58%688$60,729$168,200$114 cheaper homes ($78K less) · larger · more homeowners
Shreveport, LA 71104 58%478$56,833$164,000$97 cheaper homes ($82K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Mobile, AL 36606 57%831$51,303$172,100$132 cheaper homes ($74K less) · larger · older residents
South Bend, IN 46616 57%1,020$58,537$153,600$132 cheaper homes ($93K less) · smaller · older residents
Vermillion, SD 57069 57%692$53,327$231,200$142 more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Maryville, MO 64468 57%607$57,251$211,100$122 cheaper homes ($35K less) · more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Stillwater, OK 74075 57%326$46,053$228,100$161 larger · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Memphis, TN 38112 56%688$55,207$252,100$130 larger · older residents · 6 min longer commute
Russellville, AR 72801 56%513$47,830$163,700$129 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · more homeowners
Florence, AL 35630 55%817$46,304$174,800$132 cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger · older residents
Lansing, MI 48912 55%1,133$54,429$150,200$123 cheaper homes ($96K less) · larger · older residents
Kalamazoo, MI 49001 55%1,072$56,432$157,300$137 cheaper homes ($89K less) · larger · older residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73105 55%284$50,102$162,000$185 cheaper homes ($84K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Troy, AL 36081 54%933$44,375$198,800$113 cheaper homes ($48K less) · 5 min longer commute · more homeowners

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.