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 Harrisonburg, VA 22801

Harrisonburg: median income $72,067, home value $364,300, $202/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Orem, UT 84058 94%1,749$74,553$472,400$226 pricier homes ($108K more)
Denton, TX 76205 92%1,083$68,600$335,600$196 cheaper homes ($29K less) · smaller
Provo, UT 84601 91%1,747$67,207$403,500$249 pricier homes ($39K more)
Greenville, SC 29607 90%316$74,503$359,500$194 older residents
Fargo, ND 58104 88%1,076$85,747$359,400$177 newer homes
Grand Forks, ND 58201 88%1,120$68,143$288,500$263 cheaper homes ($76K less)
Fayetteville, AR 72703 88%856$60,568$391,000$240 pricier homes ($27K more)
Logan, UT 84341 87%1,745$69,310$465,700$203 pricier homes ($101K more) · smaller · less walkable
Charlotte, NC 28273 86%256$87,350$340,600$197 Very close on everything we compare
Orlando, FL 32835 86%702$71,418$349,100$211 older residents · 7 min longer commute
Lewisville, TX 75067 85%1,081$78,752$343,900$206 larger · older residents
Jacksonville, FL 32246 84%583$80,963$312,900$222 cheaper homes ($51K less) · larger · older residents
Coralville, IA 52241 84%708$69,243$298,900$173 cheaper homes ($65K less) · smaller · older residents
Fayetteville, AR 72701 84%856$55,506$355,300$218 less walkable
Midvale, UT 84047 84%1,755$75,954$434,300$264 pricier homes ($70K more)
Sandy, UT 84070 84%1,755$78,991$461,900$273 pricier homes ($98K more)
Mesa, AZ 85202 84%1,869$71,619$370,900$255 older residents · older homes
Raleigh, NC 27604 83%181$70,375$349,200$208 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Wilmington, NC 28403 83%297$54,547$386,700$277 Very close on everything we compare
Sioux Falls, SD 57106 83%996$77,580$290,200$188 cheaper homes ($74K less) · older residents · more homeowners
Tempe, AZ 85282 83%1,872$79,036$412,000$279 pricier homes ($48K more) · older homes
Durham, NC 27707 82%172$74,406$407,800$249 pricier homes ($44K more) · older residents
Gainesville, FL 32608 82%643$61,588$358,200$206 Very close on everything we compare
Allendale, MI 49401 82%484$74,880$321,500$217 cheaper homes ($43K less) · younger residents
Overland Park, KS 66214 82%854$83,435$340,900$194 smaller · older 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.