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 27518

Cary: median income $123,488, home value $632,200, $257/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Leawood, KS 66209 91%897$143,393$598,200$206 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Littleton, CO 80129 91%1,454$141,667$663,800$266 pricier homes ($32K more) · larger · younger residents
Lexington, KY 40513 90%358$128,013$497,600$201 cheaper homes ($135K less) · smaller
Alpharetta, GA 30009 89%333$126,510$640,500$317 Very close on everything we compare
Plano, TX 75093 89%1,043$124,563$670,500$259 pricier homes ($38K more) · larger
Longmont, CO 80503 89%1,464$113,620$755,500$282 pricier homes ($123K more) · larger
Henrico, VA 23233 88%142$125,665$479,000$248 cheaper homes ($153K less) · larger · younger residents
Austin, TX 78749 87%1,167$111,079$585,200$297 cheaper homes ($47K less) · larger · younger residents
Shelburne, VT 05482 86%666$115,963$588,100$310 cheaper homes ($44K less) · smaller · older homes
Glen Mills, PA 19342 86%339$132,688$594,000$276 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Carmel, IN 46032 86%496$132,085$496,800$218 cheaper homes ($135K less) · larger · younger residents
Englewood, CO 80111 86%1,447$135,995$916,500$314 pricier homes ($284K more) · larger
Dublin, OH 43017 85%384$135,922$523,500$226 cheaper homes ($109K less) · larger · younger residents
Coppell, TX 75019 85%1,054$141,923$559,500$266 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · younger residents
Austin, TX 78750 85%1,159$121,563$601,800$299 cheaper homes ($30K less) · younger residents · older homes
Lafayette, CO 80026 85%1,460$120,187$705,600$310 pricier homes ($73K more) · larger · younger residents
Colorado Springs, CO 80921 85%1,443$141,659$683,400$210 pricier homes ($51K more)
Farmington, CT 06032 84%523$140,912$445,400$268 cheaper homes ($187K less) · older homes
West Chester, PA 19380 84%341$122,899$564,400$278 cheaper homes ($68K less) · larger · older homes
Charlottesville, VA 22911 84%165$128,235$454,100$230 cheaper homes ($178K less) · younger residents
Tampa, FL 33626 84%576$127,118$577,100$289 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger · younger residents
Tucson, AZ 85718 84%1,848$114,892$712,400$308 pricier homes ($80K more) · older residents · older homes
Minneapolis, MN 55442 83%1,002$123,859$460,100$190 cheaper homes ($172K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Lake Bluff, IL 60044 83%665$134,724$599,900$331 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller · older homes
Saint Louis, MO 63141 83%673$133,851$620,900$214 younger residents · 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.