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 27517

Chapel Hill: median income $128,683, home value $608,100, $284/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Henrico, VA 23233 95%139$125,665$479,000$248 cheaper homes ($129K less)
Carmel, IN 46032 92%478$132,085$496,800$218 cheaper homes ($111K less) · larger
Coppell, TX 75019 92%1,043$141,923$559,500$266 cheaper homes ($49K less) · larger
Dublin, OH 43017 91%366$135,922$523,500$226 cheaper homes ($85K less)
Littleton, CO 80129 91%1,438$141,667$663,800$266 pricier homes ($56K more)
Verona, WI 53593 89%745$135,023$483,700$266 cheaper homes ($124K less) · younger residents
Charlottesville, VA 22911 88%154$128,235$454,100$230 cheaper homes ($154K less) · smaller
Tampa, FL 33626 88%583$127,118$577,100$289 cheaper homes ($31K less) · 8 min longer commute
New Albany, OH 43054 88%354$148,100$510,600$234 cheaper homes ($98K less)
Leawood, KS 66209 88%881$143,393$598,200$206 Very close on everything we compare
Austin, TX 78750 87%1,149$121,563$601,800$299 older homes
Englewood, CO 80111 87%1,431$135,995$916,500$314 pricier homes ($308K more)
Fort Collins, CO 80528 87%1,441$130,350$705,000$246 pricier homes ($97K more) · younger residents
Alpharetta, GA 30009 86%326$126,510$640,500$317 pricier homes ($32K more) · 6 min longer commute
Rochester, MN 55902 86%904$120,611$454,800$213 cheaper homes ($153K less)
Austin, TX 78749 86%1,158$111,079$585,200$297 5 min longer commute
Longmont, CO 80503 86%1,448$113,620$755,500$282 pricier homes ($147K more)
West Chester, PA 19380 85%337$122,899$564,400$278 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · older homes
Orlando, FL 32836 85%539$111,987$677,800$307 pricier homes ($70K more)
Waunakee, WI 53597 85%748$117,000$493,200$243 cheaper homes ($115K less)
Plano, TX 75093 85%1,031$124,563$670,500$259 pricier homes ($62K more) · larger · more walkable
Colorado Springs, CO 80919 85%1,428$119,518$605,900$214 Very close on everything we compare
Lexington, KY 40513 84%340$128,013$497,600$201 cheaper homes ($111K less) · smaller
Chanhassen, MN 55317 84%981$140,385$539,000$227 cheaper homes ($69K less) · more homeowners
Saint Louis, MO 63141 84%657$133,851$620,900$214 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.