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 79414

Lubbock: median income $49,057, home value $157,500, $105/sq ft, 14-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Russellville, AR 72801 90%515$47,830$163,700$129 Very close on everything we compare
Albany, GA 31707 86%1,039$50,862$133,900$98 older residents · 5 min longer commute
Pascagoula, MS 39581 85%814$37,927$153,100$91 smaller
Americus, GA 31709 84%1,032$41,531$139,800$74 Very close on everything we compare
Hattiesburg, MS 39401 83%751$41,127$134,300$120 larger
Florence, AL 35630 82%819$46,304$174,800$132 larger · older residents
Charleston, IL 61920 82%865$52,429$149,200$104 more homeowners
Clarion, PA 16214 81%1,341$57,521$171,600$107 smaller · more homeowners
Emporia, KS 66801 81%464$56,794$152,700$117 larger · more homeowners
Wichita, KS 67210 81%385$59,082$182,300$155 smaller · 6 min longer commute
Columbia, SC 29210 80%1,193$50,871$194,400$118 pricier homes ($37K more) · larger · older residents
Oklahoma City, OK 73114 80%286$54,936$156,700$163 7 min longer commute
Tulsa, OK 74146 80%387$46,865$145,700$133 more walkable
Greensboro, NC 27401 79%1,266$47,972$156,500$177 9 min longer commute
Troy, AL 36081 79%935$44,375$198,800$113 pricier homes ($41K more) · more homeowners · less walkable
Columbus, OH 43232 79%1,140$51,417$172,300$159 larger · 7 min longer commute
Junction City, KS 66441 79%472$59,522$169,800$115 more homeowners
Winston-Salem, NC 27101 78%1,240$44,198$221,000$154 pricier homes ($64K more) · older residents
Valdosta, GA 31602 78%1,101$56,939$217,300$132 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger
Shreveport, LA 71104 78%480$56,833$164,000$97 older homes
Oklahoma City, OK 73127 78%278$44,925$156,700$145 8 min longer commute
Asheboro, NC 27203 77%1,264$46,336$156,300$145 older residents · 10 min longer commute
Fayetteville, NC 28301 77%1,316$39,198$122,400$146 cheaper homes ($35K less) · older residents · 7 min longer commute
Fayetteville, NC 28303 77%1,311$58,223$189,500$142 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · older residents
Huntsville, AL 35816 77%878$40,242$128,900$128 cheaper homes ($29K less) · more apartments and townhomes · more walkable

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.