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 79424

Lubbock: median income $97,231, home value $296,300, $153/sq ft, 18-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Louisville, KY 40299 94%972$89,440$290,200$176 Very close on everything we compare
Lake Charles, LA 70605 92%561$86,015$308,700$142 Very close on everything we compare
Owasso, OK 74055 92%396$87,506$281,400$172 Very close on everything we compare
Greer, SC 29650 91%1,126$94,522$342,500$192 pricier homes ($46K more)
Saint Charles, MO 63303 91%731$99,138$321,100$163 Very close on everything we compare
Kansas City, MO 64155 91%571$97,471$300,900$189 smaller
Cordova, TN 38018 90%702$90,004$293,800$147 7 min longer commute
Perrysburg, OH 43551 90%1,144$95,846$311,100$198 Very close on everything we compare
Marion, IA 52302 90%815$87,983$244,400$146 cheaper homes ($52K less)
De Pere, WI 54115 90%1,057$94,721$339,500$213 pricier homes ($43K more)
O Fallon, IL 62269 90%757$103,818$291,800$148 7 min longer commute
Baton Rouge, LA 70810 90%672$92,098$365,000$186 pricier homes ($69K more)
Winterville, NC 28590 89%1,400$83,880$266,400$159 cheaper homes ($30K less) · smaller
Georgetown, KY 40324 89%1,024$85,110$289,100$184 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Wayne, IN 46804 89%1,052$85,833$258,700$150 cheaper homes ($38K less) · smaller · older homes
Nixa, MO 65714 89%545$86,765$286,500$177 Very close on everything we compare
Olathe, KS 66061 89%543$110,176$360,500$210 pricier homes ($64K more)
Omaha, NE 68164 89%625$88,927$255,900$167 cheaper homes ($40K less) · smaller
Lafayette, LA 70508 89%626$86,005$305,300$163 5 min longer commute
Jamestown, NC 27282 88%1,258$91,512$312,900$169 smaller
Melbourne, FL 32904 88%1,314$90,673$366,300$208 pricier homes ($70K more)
Daphne, AL 36526 88%846$88,750$322,100$177 pricier homes ($26K more) · 8 min longer commute
Lexington, KY 40515 88%1,025$86,268$340,500$191 pricier homes ($44K more)
Bowling Green, KY 42103 88%908$87,689$331,400$182 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller
Blacklick, OH 43004 88%1,147$101,175$335,400$195 pricier homes ($39K more) · smaller · 5 min longer commute

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.