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 27615

Raleigh: median income $112,754, home value $479,000, $241/sq ft, 22-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Roswell, GA 30076 94%346$118,170$489,700$231 Very close on everything we compare
West Chester, PA 19380 93%328$122,899$564,400$278 pricier homes ($85K more)
Phoenixville, PA 19460 92%338$124,050$455,900$251 Very close on everything we compare
Henrico, VA 23233 92%129$125,665$479,000$248 Very close on everything we compare
Dublin, OH 43017 92%380$135,922$523,500$226 pricier homes ($45K more)
Westlake, OH 44145 92%423$112,200$368,200$207 cheaper homes ($111K less)
Dayton, OH 45458 92%396$110,150$362,700$175 cheaper homes ($116K less)
Saint Paul, MN 55126 92%989$108,217$384,900$217 cheaper homes ($94K less) · smaller
Nashville, TN 37221 91%465$97,751$463,900$247 Very close on everything we compare
Brookfield, WI 53045 91%708$123,750$457,700$241 smaller
Saint Paul, MN 55125 91%975$119,260$416,100$192 cheaper homes ($63K less)
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089 91%661$129,401$412,200$245 cheaper homes ($67K less)
Wheaton, IL 60189 91%653$128,878$482,800$259 Very close on everything we compare
West Chester, PA 19382 90%326$132,091$568,500$282 pricier homes ($90K more)
Saint Paul, MN 55123 90%979$139,215$461,200$197 higher income ($26K more) · smaller
Littleton, CO 80123 90%1,462$105,932$620,100$284 pricier homes ($141K more)
Denver, CO 80228 90%1,466$113,977$641,300$291 pricier homes ($162K more)
Colorado Springs, CO 80919 90%1,448$119,518$605,900$214 pricier homes ($127K more) · smaller
Essex Junction, VT 05452 89%663$101,349$432,400$265 cheaper homes ($47K less) · smaller
Lutherville Timonium, MD 21093 89%268$125,528$477,700$252 older homes
Charleston, SC 29412 89%232$101,509$504,500$355 pricier homes ($26K more)
Cincinnati, OH 45249 89%389$105,804$495,000$214 smaller
Ann Arbor, MI 48103 89%520$116,194$471,700$288 older homes
Novi, MI 48375 89%522$112,545$376,900$204 cheaper homes ($102K less) · smaller
Waunakee, WI 53597 89%764$117,000$493,200$243 smaller · less walkable

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.