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.

Reset

Towns most like Lubbock, TX 79423

Lubbock: median income $84,933, home value $234,400, $149/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Lake Charles, LA 70605 95%558$86,015$308,700$142 pricier homes ($74K more)
Broken Arrow, OK 74012 95%386$81,456$243,800$154 Very close on everything we compare
Winterville, NC 28590 94%1,397$83,880$266,400$159 pricier homes ($32K more) · smaller
Warner Robins, GA 31088 94%1,057$83,082$199,300$139 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Georgetown, KY 40324 94%1,021$85,110$289,100$184 pricier homes ($55K more)
Owasso, OK 74055 94%393$87,506$281,400$172 pricier homes ($47K more)
Derby, KS 67037 93%381$85,541$242,100$142 smaller
Augusta, GA 30907 92%1,138$81,912$242,100$158 older residents
Springdale, AR 72762 92%474$82,228$303,700$211 pricier homes ($69K more)
Marion, IA 52302 91%813$87,983$244,400$146 older residents
Omaha, NE 68164 91%624$88,927$255,900$167 smaller
Valdosta, GA 31605 90%1,102$79,156$226,000$162 smaller
Louisville, KY 40299 90%970$89,440$290,200$176 pricier homes ($56K more) · older residents
Lexington, KY 40511 90%1,022$79,540$252,400$180 Very close on everything we compare
Galloway, OH 43119 90%1,124$91,224$253,600$196 smaller
Fort Wayne, IN 46835 90%1,061$77,152$210,100$161 older homes
Columbus, IN 47201 90%969$83,958$228,800$144 older homes
Lafayette, IN 47909 90%951$68,035$222,800$180 Very close on everything we compare
Appleton, WI 54915 90%1,036$87,426$269,700$187 pricier homes ($35K more) · older homes
Sartell, MN 56377 90%930$87,172$302,400$167 pricier homes ($68K more) · smaller
Bemidji, MN 56601 90%1,039$72,262$260,900$170 pricier homes ($27K more)
Houma, LA 70360 90%708$84,890$286,000$157 pricier homes ($52K more) · smaller · older residents
Bryant, AR 72022 90%542$80,920$216,200$151 smaller
Jonesboro, AR 72404 90%650$70,269$247,100$149 smaller
Jonesboro, AR 72405 90%650$92,440$259,900$152 pricier homes ($26K more) · smaller

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.