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.

Reset

Towns most like Charlotte, NC 28203

Charlotte: median income $104,696, home value $707,800, $459/sq ft, 20-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Houston, TX 77027 88%929$103,812$859,500$362 pricier homes ($152K more) · older residents
Dallas, TX 75206 84%925$91,023$615,400$363 cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · older homes
Houston, TX 77006 83%926$106,533$614,800$275 cheaper homes ($93K less) · older residents
Tampa, FL 33602 82%509$97,320$653,100$431 cheaper homes ($55K less) · older residents
Irvine, CA 92617 82%2,098$91,529$693,700— younger residents
Houston, TX 77019 81%927$116,423$816,500$298 pricier homes ($109K more) · older residents
Denver, CO 80202 81%1,356$114,151$722,700$467 older residents · more apartments and townhomes
Tampa, FL 33606 80%510$120,729$845,600$551 pricier homes ($138K more) · more homeowners · older homes
Houston, TX 77030 79%928$77,336$631,400$317 lower income ($27K less) · cheaper homes ($76K less) · older homes
Houston, TX 77098 79%928$116,650$787,300$293 pricier homes ($80K more) · older residents
Orlando, FL 32814 78%459$140,274$754,300$363 higher income ($36K more) · pricier homes ($47K more) · smaller
Chicago, IL 60601 77%588$121,458$526,200$494 cheaper homes ($182K less) · 7 min longer commute · more apartments and townhomes
Seattle, WA 98109 77%2,282$133,663$1,034,100$649 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($326K more) · larger
Seattle, WA 98122 77%2,280$106,886$957,100$551 pricier homes ($249K more) · larger · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30309 76%223$114,072$432,300$342 cheaper homes ($276K less) · larger · more homeowners
Dallas, TX 75204 76%926$92,253$479,500$314 cheaper homes ($228K less) · larger
Arlington, VA 22203 75%327$140,135$826,800$511 higher income ($35K more) · pricier homes ($119K more) · 7 min longer commute
Atlanta, GA 30308 75%224$85,693$390,200$359 cheaper homes ($318K less)
Chicago, IL 60607 75%589$127,732$499,700$417 cheaper homes ($208K less) · larger · more apartments and townhomes
Irving, TX 75039 75%934$104,853$597,800$234 cheaper homes ($110K less) · more renters
Austin, TX 78704 75%1,039$106,897$916,100$507 pricier homes ($208K more) · larger · older residents
Minneapolis, MN 55415 74%939$124,921$625,500$406 cheaper homes ($82K less) · smaller · more apartments and townhomes
Dallas, TX 75201 74%928$103,761$688,100$614 more renters · more apartments and townhomes
Dallas, TX 75219 74%928$102,364$388,600$304 cheaper homes ($319K less)
Atlanta, GA 30324 73%221$92,122$502,500$277 cheaper homes ($205K less) · larger · older residents

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.