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 Durham, NC 27712

Durham: median income $91,331, home value $372,600, $223/sq ft, 26-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Tucson, AZ 85742 91%1,844$98,844$368,300$228 Very close on everything we compare
Mountain Top, PA 18707 90%384$109,567$301,200$174 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Richmond, VA 23236 90%121$110,499$346,900$211 cheaper homes ($26K less)
Watkinsville, GA 30677 90%297$110,250$435,600$220 pricier homes ($63K more)
Macedonia, OH 44056 90%387$101,285$308,500$195 cheaper homes ($64K less) · smaller
Dewitt, MI 48820 90%555$112,526$337,100$181 cheaper homes ($36K less)
Rockford, MI 49341 90%598$113,989$382,600$224 larger
Gainesville, FL 32653 89%480$93,913$301,700$197 cheaper homes ($71K less) · smaller
Huntsville, AL 35803 89%441$100,846$294,200$172 cheaper homes ($78K less)
Fairhope, AL 36532 89%645$89,694$432,600$230 pricier homes ($60K more) · larger · older residents
Palmyra, VA 22963 88%129$104,259$327,900$203 cheaper homes ($45K less) · 6 min longer commute
Beaufort, SC 29907 88%272$97,446$428,000$259 pricier homes ($55K more) · smaller · newer homes
Gurley, AL 35748 88%431$103,563$356,300$198 smaller
Waynesville, OH 45068 88%368$96,147$335,600$204 cheaper homes ($37K less) · smaller
New Palestine, IN 46163 88%455$113,106$347,800$176 smaller
Brighton, MI 48114 88%516$124,063$405,400$213 higher income ($33K more) · pricier homes ($33K more)
Richland, MI 49083 88%556$105,496$348,100$170 smaller
Bella Vista, AR 72714 88%851$103,125$306,600$217 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller
Arlington, TX 76016 88%1,066$108,885$334,500$178 cheaper homes ($38K less)
Belchertown, MA 01007 87%551$108,125$371,400$258 smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Lenoir City, TN 37772 87%297$100,711$429,800$234 pricier homes ($57K more) · smaller
Canfield, OH 44406 87%355$98,693$286,400$174 cheaper homes ($86K less)
Cincinnati, OH 45244 87%363$109,287$382,100$201 Very close on everything we compare
Brighton, MI 48116 87%515$106,763$385,900$216 more apartments and townhomes
Belmont, MI 49306 87%598$115,039$373,500$214 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.