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 27713

Durham: median income $100,676, home value $418,400, $226/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dublin, OH 43016 94%370$109,972$452,000$211 pricier homes ($34K more)
Lexington, KY 40509 92%337$94,804$366,300$191 cheaper homes ($52K less)
Lawrence, KS 66049 92%921$90,147$393,400$190 cheaper homes ($25K less) · smaller
Jacksonville, FL 32224 91%414$88,259$458,100$265 pricier homes ($40K more)
San Antonio, TX 78258 91%1,214$117,835$480,500$194 pricier homes ($62K more)
Carrollton, TX 75010 90%1,041$107,317$484,800$241 pricier homes ($66K more) · smaller
Grapevine, TX 76051 89%1,054$111,160$489,400$258 pricier homes ($71K more)
Ann Arbor, MI 48108 88%506$89,355$406,700$234 smaller · older homes
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 88%743$97,051$379,500$224 cheaper homes ($39K less)
Nashville, TN 37221 87%450$97,751$463,900$247 pricier homes ($46K more) · older residents
Hilliard, OH 43026 87%366$111,440$347,900$212 cheaper homes ($71K less)
Waukee, IA 50263 87%894$102,762$352,800$241 cheaper homes ($66K less) · smaller · newer homes
Little Rock, AR 72223 87%769$101,062$451,800$200 pricier homes ($33K more) · smaller · older residents
Henrico, VA 23233 86%136$125,665$479,000$248 pricier homes ($61K more) · smaller · older residents
Charleston, SC 29414 86%223$99,529$417,300$258 6 min longer commute
Roswell, GA 30076 86%332$118,170$489,700$231 pricier homes ($71K more) · older homes
Westerville, OH 43081 86%363$92,422$329,800$209 cheaper homes ($89K less) · older homes
Overland Park, KS 66213 86%889$117,706$465,900$180 pricier homes ($48K more) · smaller
Overland Park, KS 66223 86%887$114,855$437,500$186 smaller · more walkable
College Station, TX 77845 86%1,071$88,851$365,100$195 cheaper homes ($53K less) · more single-family homes
Birmingham, AL 35243 85%476$99,645$538,400$233 pricier homes ($120K more) · smaller
Birmingham, AL 35244 85%483$113,450$412,000$176 smaller
Rochester, MI 48307 85%517$106,576$355,700$211 cheaper homes ($63K less) · older homes
Mckinney, TX 75070 85%1,023$112,352$465,800$206 pricier homes ($47K more) · 7 min longer commute
Auburn, AL 36830 84%440$70,188$367,700$219 lower income ($30K less) · cheaper homes ($51K less)

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.