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 28204

Charlotte: median income $92,054, home value $585,200, $326/sq ft, 23-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Houston, TX 77030 86%930$77,336$631,400$317 pricier homes ($46K more) · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30308 85%225$85,693$390,200$359 cheaper homes ($195K less) · larger
Tampa, FL 33602 84%510$97,320$653,100$431 pricier homes ($68K more) · larger
Dallas, TX 75204 84%928$92,253$479,500$314 cheaper homes ($106K less) · larger
Dallas, TX 75219 84%930$102,364$388,600$304 cheaper homes ($197K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77006 84%928$106,533$614,800$275 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · older homes
Atlanta, GA 30312 83%226$82,779$530,600$310 cheaper homes ($55K less) · larger
Houston, TX 77027 83%931$103,812$859,500$362 pricier homes ($274K more) · larger · older residents
Atlanta, GA 30324 82%223$92,122$502,500$277 cheaper homes ($83K less) · larger · older homes
Irving, TX 75039 82%936$104,853$597,800$234 larger · more renters
Atlanta, GA 30346 81%219$95,000$595,900$323 smaller · more renters
Dallas, TX 75206 81%927$91,023$615,400$363 pricier homes ($30K more) · larger · older homes
Portland, OR 97227 81%2,286$93,293$662,000$294 pricier homes ($77K more) · smaller · older residents
Atlanta, GA 30326 80%222$121,984$448,000$323 higher income ($30K more) · cheaper homes ($137K less)
Orlando, FL 32801 80%462$80,871$428,000$274 cheaper homes ($157K less) · larger
Denver, CO 80202 80%1,357$114,151$722,700$467 pricier homes ($138K more) · larger
Stamford, CT 06901 79%565$102,641$478,700$463 cheaper homes ($107K less) · more renters
Columbus, OH 43215 79%349$74,087$551,200$287 cheaper homes ($34K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Minneapolis, MN 55401 79%940$113,522$396,500$318 cheaper homes ($189K less) · 5 min shorter commute
Atlanta, GA 30339 78%227$103,277$465,800$242 cheaper homes ($119K less) · larger
Chicago, IL 60601 78%589$121,458$526,200$494 higher income ($29K more) · cheaper homes ($59K less) · larger
Phoenix, AZ 85004 78%1,780$73,750$417,400$331 cheaper homes ($168K less)
Nashville, TN 37203 77%341$71,281$549,000$460 cheaper homes ($36K less) · larger · 6 min shorter commute
Chicago, IL 60661 77%590$125,741$392,900$407 higher income ($34K more) · cheaper homes ($192K less)
Atlanta, GA 30309 76%225$114,072$432,300$342 cheaper homes ($153K less) · larger · more homeowners

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.