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 Matthews, NC 28104

Matthews: median income $138,017, home value $533,500, $253/sq ft, 29-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Phoenix, AZ 85083 94%1,787$149,087$612,700$267 pricier homes ($79K more) · smaller
Mechanicsville, VA 23116 93%260$141,711$433,900$228 cheaper homes ($100K less)
Cumming, GA 30040 93%205$137,211$526,100$219 larger
Cumming, GA 30041 93%203$152,564$574,300$219 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger
Saint Johns, FL 32259 93%348$150,736$533,400$237 larger
Frisco, TX 75036 93%931$151,645$564,500$229 pricier homes ($31K more)
Chandler, AZ 85249 93%1,774$153,633$660,600$273 pricier homes ($127K more)
Gilbert, AZ 85298 93%1,770$156,425$652,400$291 pricier homes ($119K more)
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062 92%441$157,009$488,100$252 cheaper homes ($45K less) · smaller
Elgin, IL 60124 92%635$139,982$430,900$211 cheaper homes ($103K less)
Colorado Springs, CO 80908 92%1,347$133,965$705,400$237 pricier homes ($172K more)
Saint Augustine, FL 32092 91%357$131,020$489,800$216 cheaper homes ($44K less)
Oviedo, FL 32766 91%443$147,552$564,400$250 pricier homes ($31K more) · smaller
Odessa, FL 33556 91%491$149,722$625,200$266 pricier homes ($92K more)
Thompsons Station, TN 37179 91%353$136,188$570,200$296 pricier homes ($37K more) · smaller
Helotes, TX 78023 91%1,117$134,007$412,900$169 cheaper homes ($121K less)
New Braunfels, TX 78132 91%1,083$135,315$620,300$212 pricier homes ($87K more)
San Antonio, TX 78255 91%1,112$157,428$531,400$212 smaller
San Antonio, TX 78260 91%1,100$154,590$498,100$190 cheaper homes ($35K less)
Monument, CO 80132 91%1,356$161,670$773,100$225 pricier homes ($240K more)
Berthoud, CO 80513 91%1,378$126,726$600,600$249 pricier homes ($67K more) · smaller
Saint Augustine, FL 32095 90%351$136,038$525,000$229 smaller · newer homes
Tallahassee, FL 32312 90%376$123,032$432,100$228 cheaper homes ($101K less)
Union, KY 41091 90%348$136,307$399,500$193 cheaper homes ($134K less)
Flower Mound, TX 75028 90%947$149,436$488,700$233 cheaper homes ($45K 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.