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 Amherst, MA 01002

Amherst: median income $70,818, home value $481,100, $314/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charlottesville, VA 22903 93%437$69,340$526,200$304 pricier homes ($45K more) · larger
Blacksburg, VA 24060 86%551$67,675$447,600$237 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger
Ann Arbor, MI 48105 83%574$94,774$503,100$264 Very close on everything we compare
Ithaca, NY 14850 82%206$71,445$353,500$228 cheaper homes ($128K less) · larger · less walkable
State College, PA 16803 82%300$73,532$413,700$195 cheaper homes ($67K less) · newer homes
Fort Collins, CO 80521 82%1,684$58,082$564,900$378 pricier homes ($84K more)
State College, PA 16801 81%299$61,836$414,600$228 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · more walkable
Chapel Hill, NC 27514 81%567$92,875$663,900$299 pricier homes ($183K more)
Durham, NC 27705 81%559$73,066$455,000$261 cheaper homes ($26K less) · larger · older residents
Birmingham, AL 35209 81%992$71,439$504,600$311 older residents
Ann Arbor, MI 48104 81%575$64,231$491,200$393 larger · more walkable
Provo, UT 84604 81%2,021$75,571$582,000$250 pricier homes ($101K more) · larger
Corvallis, OR 97333 81%2,512$65,191$511,100$351 pricier homes ($30K more) · newer homes
Columbus, OH 43220 80%573$74,298$473,500$241 older residents
Madison, WI 53705 80%862$88,549$475,400$340 older residents · more walkable
Baton Rouge, LA 70808 80%1,323$69,418$409,900$213 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Corvallis, OR 97330 78%2,510$70,742$526,800$320 pricier homes ($46K more) · larger · older residents
Fort Worth, TX 76109 77%1,512$100,507$630,800$269 higher income ($30K more) · pricier homes ($150K more) · older residents
Raleigh, NC 27609 76%558$83,065$471,200$311 older residents
Boise, ID 83706 75%2,186$82,893$537,700$364 pricier homes ($57K more) · more walkable
Towson, MD 21204 74%298$99,606$594,800$261 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($114K more) · older residents
Raleigh, NC 27606 74%566$78,371$457,900$247 larger · newer homes
Durham, NC 27707 74%562$74,406$407,800$249 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · older residents
Knoxville, TN 37919 74%761$72,645$526,800$258 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 74%574$89,355$406,700$234 cheaper homes ($74K less) · older residents · newer homes

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.