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 Charlotte, NC 28202

Charlotte: median income $105,889, home value $443,500, $361/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Dallas, TX 75219 92%929$102,364$388,600$304 cheaper homes ($55K less)
Tampa, FL 33602 89%511$97,320$653,100$431 pricier homes ($210K more)
Dallas, TX 75204 89%927$92,253$479,500$314 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger
Miami, FL 33132 88%654$109,109$524,300$550 pricier homes ($81K more)
Minneapolis, MN 55401 88%939$113,522$396,500$318 cheaper homes ($47K less)
Atlanta, GA 30308 87%225$85,693$390,200$359 cheaper homes ($53K less)
Minneapolis, MN 55415 85%938$124,921$625,500$406 pricier homes ($182K more) · smaller
Stamford, CT 06901 84%565$102,641$478,700$463 pricier homes ($35K more) · smaller · more renters
Orlando, FL 32801 82%463$80,871$428,000$274 lower income ($25K less) · older residents
Indianapolis, IN 46204 82%428$86,396$381,400$234 cheaper homes ($62K less) · smaller · more renters
Denver, CO 80202 82%1,356$114,151$722,700$467 pricier homes ($279K more)
Portland, OR 97209 81%2,285$80,301$587,300$343 lower income ($26K less) · pricier homes ($144K more) · older residents
Atlanta, GA 30312 80%226$82,779$530,600$310 pricier homes ($87K more) · larger · more single-family homes
Phoenix, AZ 85004 80%1,778$73,750$417,400$331 lower income ($32K less) · cheaper homes ($26K less)
San Diego, CA 92108 80%2,074$103,884$618,700$563 pricier homes ($175K more) · larger
Columbus, OH 43215 79%348$74,087$551,200$287 lower income ($32K less) · pricier homes ($108K more)
Chicago, IL 60607 78%588$127,732$499,700$417 pricier homes ($56K more) · larger · more homeowners
Atlanta, GA 30324 77%222$92,122$502,500$277 pricier homes ($59K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Atlanta, GA 30339 77%226$103,277$465,800$242 larger · 5 min longer commute · less walkable
Houston, TX 77006 77%928$106,533$614,800$275 pricier homes ($171K more) · more single-family homes
Nashville, TN 37203 76%340$71,281$549,000$460 lower income ($35K less) · pricier homes ($106K more)
Philadelphia, PA 19123 75%452$102,106$539,500$326 pricier homes ($96K more) · 11 min longer commute · older homes
Chicago, IL 60601 75%587$121,458$526,200$494 pricier homes ($83K more) · 7 min longer commute
Chicago, IL 60605 75%587$123,922$453,200$334 larger · 6 min longer commute · more homeowners
Chicago, IL 60661 75%588$125,741$392,900$407 cheaper homes ($51K less) · 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.