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 27613

Raleigh: median income $123,966, home value $520,600, $249/sq ft, 21-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Henrico, VA 23233 98%130$125,665$479,000$248 cheaper homes ($42K less)
Dublin, OH 43017 96%377$135,922$523,500$226 Very close on everything we compare
Carmel, IN 46032 95%492$132,085$496,800$218 Very close on everything we compare
Coppell, TX 75019 95%1,059$141,923$559,500$266 pricier homes ($39K more)
Rochester, MN 55902 94%918$120,611$454,800$213 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Charlottesville, VA 22911 92%153$128,235$454,100$230 cheaper homes ($67K less) · smaller
Waunakee, WI 53597 92%761$117,000$493,200$243 cheaper homes ($27K less) · smaller
Plano, TX 75025 92%1,043$143,260$486,100$206 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Colorado Springs, CO 80919 92%1,445$119,518$605,900$214 pricier homes ($85K more) · smaller
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 91%340$124,189$420,000$231 cheaper homes ($101K less) · 6 min longer commute
Birmingham, AL 35242 91%487$117,047$477,700$198 cheaper homes ($43K less)
Mason, OH 45040 91%388$133,240$440,000$209 cheaper homes ($81K less)
Verona, WI 53593 91%758$135,023$483,700$266 cheaper homes ($37K less) · newer homes
Austin, TX 78750 91%1,165$121,563$601,800$299 pricier homes ($81K more) · smaller
Roswell, GA 30076 90%343$118,170$489,700$231 cheaper homes ($31K less)
New Albany, OH 43054 90%365$148,100$510,600$234 smaller
Brookfield, WI 53045 89%706$123,750$457,700$241 cheaper homes ($63K less) · smaller
Saint Paul, MN 55123 89%976$139,215$461,200$197 cheaper homes ($59K less) · smaller
Chanhassen, MN 55317 89%994$140,385$539,000$227 smaller · more homeowners
Littleton, CO 80129 89%1,454$141,667$663,800$266 pricier homes ($143K more)
Downingtown, PA 19335 88%328$143,249$494,100$234 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 5 min longer commute
West Chester, PA 19380 88%329$122,899$564,400$278 pricier homes ($44K more) · older homes
Yorktown, VA 23693 88%152$124,433$488,400$225 cheaper homes ($32K less) · smaller
Fort Mill, SC 29708 88%141$132,018$515,200$226 newer homes
Tampa, FL 33626 88%588$127,118$577,100$289 pricier homes ($57K more) · 8 min longer commute

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.