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 79411

Lubbock: median income $47,634, home value $133,900, $97/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Henderson, NC 27536 79%1,339$39,985$131,000$112 larger · older residents
Evansville, IN 47713 77%856$40,873$95,900$80 cheaper homes ($38K less) · older homes
Fort Smith, AR 72901 77%442$42,851$118,100$113 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Mobile, AL 36611 75%828$46,559$117,500$88 more homeowners
Akron, OH 44310 75%1,230$41,066$99,400$105 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Macon, GA 31204 73%1,051$38,784$135,300$89 larger · more homeowners
Kansas City, MO 64132 73%553$45,622$108,000$98 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · more homeowners
Rocky Mount, NC 27801 72%1,374$44,884$115,400$109 larger · more homeowners · newer homes
Shreveport, LA 71104 72%477$56,833$164,000$97 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · more homeowners
Little Rock, AR 72209 72%549$40,231$98,800$95 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger
Oklahoma City, OK 73149 72%279$53,317$128,100$108 more homeowners · more walkable · newer homes
Fayetteville, NC 28301 71%1,312$39,198$122,400$146 larger · older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Baton Rouge, LA 70802 71%662$34,458$99,800$102 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Alexandria, LA 71301 71%570$43,098$160,800$92 pricier homes ($27K more) · larger · older residents
Tulsa, OK 74106 71%379$40,776$109,500$123 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Mobile, AL 36606 70%829$51,303$172,100$132 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger · more homeowners
Columbus, OH 43211 70%1,133$42,579$112,700$152 larger · more homeowners · more walkable
Omaha, NE 68111 70%624$42,185$116,400$124 larger · more homeowners · more walkable
Oklahoma City, OK 73110 70%286$51,228$126,100$130 larger · more homeowners
Oklahoma City, OK 73114 70%283$54,936$156,700$163 larger · newer homes
Lawton, OK 73501 70%212$49,741$133,000$119 larger · older residents · more homeowners
Americus, GA 31709 69%1,029$41,531$139,800$74 larger · more homeowners · more apartments and townhomes
Indianola, MS 38751 69%645$44,699$116,100$91 older residents · more homeowners · newer homes
West Memphis, AR 72301 69%675$42,859$120,100$115 larger · more homeowners · newer homes
Albany, GA 31707 68%1,036$50,862$133,900$98 larger · older residents · 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.