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 Cary, NC 27513

Cary: median income $121,989, home value $519,800, $258/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Henrico, VA 23233 95%139$125,665$479,000$248 cheaper homes ($41K less)
Dublin, OH 43017 94%380$135,922$523,500$226 Very close on everything we compare
Carmel, IN 46032 94%493$132,085$496,800$218 Very close on everything we compare
Plano, TX 75093 94%1,042$124,563$670,500$259 pricier homes ($151K more)
Austin, TX 78749 93%1,167$111,079$585,200$297 pricier homes ($65K more)
Roswell, GA 30076 92%336$118,170$489,700$231 cheaper homes ($30K less)
Coppell, TX 75019 92%1,054$141,923$559,500$266 pricier homes ($40K more)
Littleton, CO 80129 92%1,452$141,667$663,800$266 pricier homes ($144K more) · smaller
Lafayette, CO 80026 91%1,458$120,187$705,600$310 pricier homes ($186K more)
Verona, WI 53593 89%759$135,023$483,700$266 cheaper homes ($36K less) · smaller
Overland Park, KS 66213 89%899$117,706$465,900$180 cheaper homes ($54K less) · smaller
West Chester, PA 19380 88%338$122,899$564,400$278 pricier homes ($45K more) · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30338 88%338$135,148$611,300$249 pricier homes ($92K more) · older homes
Ann Arbor, MI 48103 88%522$116,194$471,700$288 cheaper homes ($48K less) · older homes
Overland Park, KS 66223 88%896$114,855$437,500$186 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller
Plano, TX 75025 88%1,038$143,260$486,100$206 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Austin, TX 78750 88%1,158$121,563$601,800$299 pricier homes ($82K more) · smaller
Longmont, CO 80503 88%1,462$113,620$755,500$282 pricier homes ($236K more)
West Chester, PA 19382 87%336$132,091$568,500$282 pricier homes ($49K more) · older homes
Phoenixville, PA 19460 87%348$124,050$455,900$251 cheaper homes ($64K less) · older homes
Charlottesville, VA 22911 87%161$128,235$454,100$230 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · less walkable
New Albany, OH 43054 87%368$148,100$510,600$234 higher income ($26K more) · smaller
Middleton, WI 53562 87%762$101,381$532,200$270 smaller
San Antonio, TX 78258 87%1,219$117,835$480,500$194 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Denver, CO 80228 87%1,460$113,977$641,300$291 pricier homes ($122K more) · 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.