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 Corolla, NC 27927

Corolla: median income $120,568, home value $714,700, $351/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Empire, MI 49630 86%793$106,375$497,600$336 cheaper homes ($217K less)
Bradenton, FL 34201 85%729$124,863$670,300$271 cheaper homes ($44K less) · larger · older residents
Genoa, NV 89411 83%2,391$121,981$1,003,200$421 pricier homes ($289K more) · 5 min shorter commute
Northport, MI 49670 80%794$116,133$559,200$483 cheaper homes ($156K less) · less walkable · older homes
Douglas, MI 49406 78%704$102,500$497,100$426 cheaper homes ($218K less) · 6 min shorter commute
Rio Verde, AZ 85263 77%2,026$145,053$851,000$357 pricier homes ($136K more) · larger · older residents
Cataumet, MA 02534 75%463$137,066$685,600$407 cheaper homes ($29K less) · younger residents · older homes
Moultonborough, NH 03254 74%563$106,440$641,300$374 cheaper homes ($73K less) · larger · younger residents
Lake Leelanau, MI 49653 74%792$85,787$669,800$386 lower income ($35K less) · cheaper homes ($45K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Cotuit, MA 02635 73%466$110,197$683,600$490 cheaper homes ($31K less) · larger · younger residents
Osterville, MA 02655 73%468$118,750$806,300$571 pricier homes ($92K more) · larger · younger residents
Center Harbor, NH 03226 73%560$107,500$462,800$290 cheaper homes ($252K less) · older homes
Sunset, SC 29685 73%404$116,742$828,500$381 pricier homes ($114K more) · larger · younger residents
West Stockbridge, MA 01266 72%435$100,417$563,400$359 cheaper homes ($151K less) · younger residents · older homes
Ogunquit, ME 03907 72%553$114,259$875,700$595 pricier homes ($161K more) · more apartments and townhomes · older homes
South Hero, VT 05486 72%590$126,513$544,700$237 cheaper homes ($170K less) · younger residents · older homes
Placitas, NM 87043 71%1,715$109,750$562,100$294 cheaper homes ($153K less) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Nordland, WA 98358 71%2,490$110,368$756,000$430 pricier homes ($41K more) · 8 min longer commute · more walkable
Richmond, MA 01254 70%438$125,893$625,000$219 cheaper homes ($90K less) · less walkable · older homes
Westhampton, NY 11977 70%354$151,375$1,077,200$568 higher income ($31K more) · pricier homes ($363K more) · larger
Edisto Island, SC 29438 70%365$86,979$642,400$452 lower income ($34K less) · cheaper homes ($72K less) · larger
Kewadin, MI 49648 70%780$93,272$633,500$414 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($81K less) · larger
Arnold, CA 95223 70%2,423$106,694$476,000$289 cheaper homes ($239K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Meadow Vista, CA 95722 70%2,455$125,625$697,800$369 larger · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Freeland, WA 98249 70%2,484$99,519$627,400$404 cheaper homes ($87K less) · larger · 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.