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 Glen Allen, VA 23059

Glen Allen: median income $157,897, home value $593,700, $238/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Apex, NC 27502 97%156$143,922$550,900$241 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Alpharetta, GA 30004 96%453$156,100$657,700$249 pricier homes ($64K more) · larger
Saint Paul, MN 55129 94%937$143,795$534,900$199 cheaper homes ($59K less)
Apex, NC 27539 93%156$145,947$565,600$237 cheaper homes ($28K less) · smaller
Davidson, NC 28036 93%237$156,496$630,900$313 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Fort Mill, SC 29708 93%266$132,018$515,200$226 lower income ($26K less) · cheaper homes ($79K less)
Lewis Center, OH 43035 93%338$154,683$456,400$210 cheaper homes ($137K less)
Roanoke, TX 76262 93%1,152$151,250$577,100$248 Very close on everything we compare
Spring, TX 77382 93%1,151$162,384$566,500$222 cheaper homes ($27K less)
Alpharetta, GA 30005 92%450$176,957$636,300$236 pricier homes ($43K more)
Alpharetta, GA 30022 92%453$153,294$635,300$238 pricier homes ($42K more) · larger
Minneapolis, MN 55446 92%966$170,625$583,500$210 smaller
Parker, CO 80134 92%1,473$146,778$677,700$225 pricier homes ($84K more) · larger
Wexford, PA 15090 91%240$160,576$476,400$243 cheaper homes ($117K less) · smaller · older homes
Mars, PA 16046 91%245$151,560$481,300$212 cheaper homes ($112K less) · smaller
Gambrills, MD 21054 91%102$163,825$611,000$251 smaller
Powell, OH 43065 91%342$154,481$482,200$215 cheaper homes ($112K less)
Broomfield, CO 80023 91%1,480$158,180$869,000$262 pricier homes ($275K more) · smaller
Colorado Springs, CO 80921 91%1,474$141,659$683,400$210 pricier homes ($90K more) · smaller
Apex, NC 27523 90%156$135,625$659,300$252 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller
Charlotte, NC 28270 90%253$131,667$589,500$271 lower income ($26K less) · older homes
New Albany, OH 43054 90%326$148,100$510,600$234 cheaper homes ($83K less) · smaller
Westerville, OH 43082 90%332$147,972$458,200$214 cheaper homes ($136K less)
Zionsville, IN 46077 90%494$177,679$580,600$198 Very close on everything we compare
Maple Grove, MN 55311 90%965$153,568$487,300$192 cheaper homes ($106K less)

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.