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 Apex, NC 27523

Apex: median income $135,625, home value $659,300, $252/sq ft, 24-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Fort Collins, CO 80528 95%1,454$130,350$705,000$246 pricier homes ($46K more)
Littleton, CO 80129 93%1,451$141,667$663,800$266 Very close on everything we compare
New Albany, OH 43054 92%371$148,100$510,600$234 cheaper homes ($149K less)
Colorado Springs, CO 80921 92%1,439$141,659$683,400$210 older residents
Colorado Springs, CO 80924 92%1,434$139,447$656,800$207 Very close on everything we compare
Saint Paul, MN 55129 91%973$143,795$534,900$199 cheaper homes ($124K less) · larger
Glen Allen, VA 23059 90%156$157,897$593,700$238 cheaper homes ($66K less) · larger
Verona, WI 53593 90%761$135,023$483,700$266 cheaper homes ($176K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Fort Mill, SC 29708 89%130$132,018$515,200$226 cheaper homes ($144K less) · larger
Allen, TX 75013 89%1,031$146,891$590,700$223 cheaper homes ($69K less) · larger
Alpharetta, GA 30004 88%329$156,100$657,700$249 larger
Windermere, FL 34786 88%523$134,214$684,400$308 pricier homes ($25K more) · larger
Coppell, TX 75019 88%1,051$141,923$559,500$266 cheaper homes ($100K less) · larger · older homes
Broomfield, CO 80023 88%1,452$158,180$869,000$262 pricier homes ($210K more) · 5 min longer commute
Littleton, CO 80130 88%1,446$158,741$691,800$235 pricier homes ($33K more)
Tampa, FL 33626 87%574$127,118$577,100$289 cheaper homes ($82K less) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Carmel, IN 46032 87%494$132,085$496,800$218 cheaper homes ($163K less) · larger
Minneapolis, MN 55446 86%1,002$170,625$583,500$210 higher income ($35K more) · cheaper homes ($76K less)
San Antonio, TX 78248 86%1,218$130,552$479,500$207 cheaper homes ($180K less) · older homes
Phoenix, AZ 85048 86%1,890$122,833$592,100$289 cheaper homes ($67K less) · larger · older homes
Henrico, VA 23233 85%144$125,665$479,000$248 cheaper homes ($180K less) · larger · older homes
Lewis Center, OH 43035 85%382$154,683$456,400$210 cheaper homes ($203K less) · larger
Chanhassen, MN 55317 85%997$140,385$539,000$227 cheaper homes ($120K less) · older homes
Phoenix, AZ 85050 85%1,880$139,836$618,600$335 cheaper homes ($41K less) · larger
Charlottesville, VA 22911 84%166$128,235$454,100$230 cheaper homes ($205K 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.