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 Raleigh, NC 27603

Raleigh: median income $90,484, home value $383,200, $209/sq ft, 28-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Charleston, SC 29414 95%215$99,529$417,300$258 pricier homes ($34K more)
Kennesaw, GA 30144 95%357$88,560$345,900$188 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Orlando, FL 32828 94%516$101,767$432,100$222 pricier homes ($49K more)
Lexington, KY 40509 94%356$94,804$366,300$191 5 min shorter commute
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 93%764$97,051$379,500$224 6 min shorter commute
Jacksonville, FL 32225 91%405$90,559$355,300$223 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Jacksonville, FL 32258 91%420$102,204$370,700$197 Very close on everything we compare
Lafayette, LA 70508 91%864$86,005$305,300$163 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Oviedo, FL 32765 90%510$102,167$447,900$246 pricier homes ($65K more)
Sanford, FL 32771 90%501$77,868$371,700$213 Very close on everything we compare
Orlando, FL 32837 90%530$88,848$403,700$222 older residents
Plano, TX 75074 89%1,043$88,697$371,000$206 more walkable
Round Rock, TX 78664 89%1,155$87,417$358,200$194 cheaper homes ($25K less)
Newark, DE 19702 88%316$92,446$346,100$209 cheaper homes ($37K less)
Orlando, FL 32825 88%518$81,651$355,600$232 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Riverview, FL 33578 88%584$85,921$340,900$184 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Tampa, FL 33624 88%574$87,760$386,100$252 older homes
Murfreesboro, TN 37129 88%435$91,259$422,200$224 pricier homes ($39K more)
Lexington, KY 40515 88%357$86,268$340,500$191 cheaper homes ($43K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Hilliard, OH 43026 88%386$111,440$347,900$212 cheaper homes ($35K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Aurora, IL 60504 88%664$98,008$286,500$219 cheaper homes ($97K less)
Baton Rouge, LA 70810 88%809$92,098$365,000$186 5 min shorter commute
Garland, TX 75044 88%1,043$92,178$344,300$190 cheaper homes ($39K less) · older homes
Conroe, TX 77304 88%1,044$80,425$355,300$159 cheaper homes ($28K less)
Austin, TX 78747 88%1,170$92,748$430,300$194 pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller

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.