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 Charlottesville, VA 22901

Charlottesville: median income $92,145, home value $501,700, $272/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Middleton, WI 53562 95%670$101,381$532,200$270 pricier homes ($31K more)
Raleigh, NC 27612 93%155$95,988$529,000$261 pricier homes ($27K more)
Charlotte, NC 28210 93%241$100,824$531,700$315 pricier homes ($30K more) · younger residents
Tampa, FL 33611 93%741$90,910$479,800$368 Very close on everything we compare
Hopkins, MN 55305 93%902$104,914$451,800$234 cheaper homes ($50K less) · smaller
Dallas, TX 75248 93%1,082$100,414$576,100$254 pricier homes ($74K more)
Maitland, FL 32751 92%674$95,387$453,700$291 cheaper homes ($48K less) · smaller
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 92%394$89,355$406,700$234 cheaper homes ($95K less) · younger residents
Minneapolis, MN 55441 92%903$101,981$470,100$214 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Fort Collins, CO 80525 92%1,421$91,636$588,400$265 pricier homes ($87K more)
Essex Junction, VT 05452 91%526$101,349$432,400$265 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller
Olympia, WA 98502 91%2,313$92,207$537,200$326 pricier homes ($36K more)
Raleigh, NC 27609 90%155$83,065$471,200$311 cheaper homes ($31K less)
Orlando, FL 32819 90%687$98,109$489,700$278 Very close on everything we compare
Colorado Springs, CO 80906 90%1,417$89,984$574,100$224 pricier homes ($72K more)
Asheville, NC 28803 89%281$76,662$452,900$306 cheaper homes ($49K less)
Columbus, OH 43235 89%275$86,666$383,500$206 cheaper homes ($118K less)
Grapevine, TX 76051 89%1,099$111,160$489,400$258 Very close on everything we compare
Fort Collins, CO 80526 89%1,424$88,686$551,800$273 pricier homes ($50K more) · younger residents
Albuquerque, NM 87111 89%1,558$90,290$379,500$235 cheaper homes ($122K less) · larger
South Burlington, VT 05403 88%520$105,616$442,400$281 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 88%427$101,901$457,600$362 cheaper homes ($44K less) · 7 min longer commute
Cary, NC 27511 88%161$107,860$456,000$286 cheaper homes ($46K less)
Knoxville, TN 37919 88%335$72,645$526,800$258 pricier homes ($25K more)
Scottsdale, AZ 85260 88%1,882$97,177$698,200$400 pricier homes ($197K more)

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.