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 79413

Lubbock: median income $69,400, home value $208,600, $117/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Hays, KS 67601 88%395$61,417$227,300$133 Very close on everything we compare
Kirksville, MO 63501 87%689$60,729$168,200$114 cheaper homes ($40K less) · more apartments and townhomes
High Point, NC 27262 85%1,250$65,006$236,500$155 pricier homes ($28K more) · 5 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Hancock, MI 49930 85%1,169$72,314$214,000$143 smaller
Altus, OK 73521 85%165$60,887$160,600$125 cheaper homes ($48K less)
Evansville, IN 47712 84%852$68,494$193,600$133 5 min longer commute
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 84%741$66,654$219,800$135 larger · newer homes
Hastings, NE 68901 84%523$66,585$190,100$109 older residents
Monroe, LA 71201 84%571$65,446$263,800$130 pricier homes ($55K more) · older residents
Terre Haute, IN 47803 83%903$60,565$156,300$138 cheaper homes ($52K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Enid, OK 73703 83%299$73,333$196,300$130 older residents · newer homes
Ada, OK 74820 83%309$62,357$181,400$123 cheaper homes ($27K less) · older residents · newer homes
Huntington, WV 25705 82%1,139$61,329$165,300$114 cheaper homes ($43K less) · older residents
Columbus, GA 31904 82%981$66,291$226,000$147 larger · older residents · newer homes
Lima, OH 45805 82%1,093$68,842$160,600$141 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older residents
Morris, MN 56267 82%890$74,442$236,800$133 pricier homes ($28K more) · smaller
Bloomsburg, PA 17815 81%1,485$67,510$222,900$160 more apartments and townhomes
Storm Lake, IA 50588 81%726$70,906$184,900$122 smaller · more homeowners
Wausau, WI 54403 81%1,026$69,030$192,600$149 older residents
Stevens Point, WI 54481 81%1,004$59,545$201,000$168 more apartments and townhomes
Appleton, WI 54911 81%1,034$67,001$216,100$174 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Winona, MN 55987 81%907$61,624$221,800$157 more apartments and townhomes
Pittsburg, KS 66762 81%483$50,511$145,300$110 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Wichita, KS 67208 81%386$60,914$183,300$126 cheaper homes ($25K less) · more walkable
Canton, NY 13617 80%1,614$71,663$161,300$131 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes

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.