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 Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Chapel Hill: median income $92,875, home value $663,900, $299/sq ft, 19-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Ann Arbor, MI 48105 85%507$94,774$503,100$264 cheaper homes ($161K less) · older residents
Irvine, CA 92617 85%2,193$91,529$693,700— pricier homes ($30K more) · more renters · newer homes
Fort Worth, TX 76109 83%1,068$100,507$630,800$269 cheaper homes ($33K less) · older residents
Amherst, MA 01002 81%567$70,818$481,100$314 cheaper homes ($183K less)
Boulder, CO 80303 80%1,449$78,555$961,900$467 pricier homes ($298K more) · older residents
Davis, CA 95616 79%2,335$74,359$895,600$470 pricier homes ($232K more) · larger · more renters
Charlottesville, VA 22903 78%149$69,340$526,200$304 cheaper homes ($138K less) · older residents
Nashville, TN 37212 78%434$95,145$963,800$422 pricier homes ($300K more) · smaller · older homes
Towson, MD 21204 77%275$99,606$594,800$261 cheaper homes ($69K less) · smaller · older residents
Nashville, TN 37204 77%432$109,580$907,500$447 pricier homes ($244K more) · smaller · older residents
Houston, TX 77079 76%1,049$101,995$679,900$339 older residents · 6 min longer commute
Provo, UT 84604 76%1,789$75,571$582,000$250 cheaper homes ($82K less)
State College, PA 16803 74%343$73,532$413,700$195 cheaper homes ($250K less) · older residents
Tampa, FL 33606 74%586$120,729$845,600$551 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($182K more)
Madison, WI 53705 74%742$88,549$475,400$340 cheaper homes ($189K less) · older residents · older homes
Boulder, CO 80301 74%1,448$95,207$793,200$376 pricier homes ($129K more) · older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55416 73%975$105,958$461,500$272 cheaper homes ($202K less) · older residents · older homes
Bozeman, MT 59715 73%1,790$88,407$848,400$466 pricier homes ($185K more) · older residents
Irving, TX 75063 73%1,041$117,133$559,900$225 cheaper homes ($104K less) · older residents
Boise, ID 83706 73%2,025$82,893$537,700$364 cheaper homes ($126K less) · older residents
Atlanta, GA 30342 71%334$124,111$829,400$318 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($166K more) · older residents
Boca Raton, FL 33431 71%662$107,896$640,700$427 older residents · more homeowners
Austin, TX 78759 71%1,145$102,400$674,000$332 older residents
Blacksburg, VA 24060 70%121$67,675$447,600$237 lower income ($25K less) · cheaper homes ($216K less)
Nashville, TN 37209 70%437$81,423$529,800$333 cheaper homes ($134K less) · older residents

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.