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.

Reset

Towns most like Apex, NC 27539

Apex: median income $145,947, home value $565,600, $237/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Castle Rock, CO 80109 96%1,444$155,025$675,500$224 pricier homes ($110K more)
San Antonio, TX 78255 95%1,225$157,428$531,400$212 cheaper homes ($34K less)
Thompsons Station, TN 37179 94%451$136,188$570,200$296 Very close on everything we compare
Castle Rock, CO 80104 94%1,442$134,335$624,200$222 pricier homes ($59K more)
Gambrills, MD 21054 93%258$163,825$611,000$251 pricier homes ($45K more) · smaller
Glen Allen, VA 23059 93%156$157,897$593,700$238 pricier homes ($28K more) · larger
Plain City, OH 43064 93%387$139,591$461,900$230 cheaper homes ($104K less)
Avondale, PA 19311 92%329$155,771$540,800$197 smaller
Roanoke, TX 76262 92%1,063$151,250$577,100$248 larger
San Antonio, TX 78260 92%1,212$154,590$498,100$190 cheaper homes ($68K less)
Fort Mill, SC 29708 91%130$132,018$515,200$226 cheaper homes ($50K less) · larger
Cumming, GA 30041 91%316$152,564$574,300$219 larger
Powell, OH 43065 91%385$154,481$482,200$215 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger
Mckinney, TX 75072 91%1,026$165,682$502,700$210 cheaper homes ($63K less) · larger
Spring, TX 77382 91%1,038$162,384$566,500$222 larger
Dripping Springs, TX 78620 91%1,177$153,477$676,500$239 pricier homes ($111K more) · older residents
Parker, CO 80134 91%1,442$146,778$677,700$225 pricier homes ($112K more) · larger
Mars, PA 16046 90%350$151,560$481,300$212 cheaper homes ($84K less)
Odessa, FL 33556 90%568$149,722$625,200$266 pricier homes ($60K more) · 5 min longer commute
Knoxville, TN 37922 90%296$132,807$523,800$245 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Avon, OH 44011 90%431$135,915$395,900$219 cheaper homes ($170K less)
Westfield, IN 46074 90%498$126,724$437,100$195 cheaper homes ($129K less) · larger
Rogers, MN 55374 90%1,011$144,714$462,000$193 cheaper homes ($104K less) · smaller
Lees Summit, MO 64082 90%881$131,453$411,700$193 cheaper homes ($154K less)
Stilwell, KS 66085 90%894$152,500$538,300$241 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller · 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.